Liverpool No2 Steve Clarke feels Jordan Henderson is proving why they signed him from Sunderland.

For the Carling Cup win at Stoke City, Luis Suarez may have hogged the headlines for his sublime brace, but Henderson's pass to create the Uruguay international's second also caught Clarke's eye.

"It's always been the case in football that the goalscorer gets the headlines but sometimes the assist is just as good," the first-team coach told liverpoolfc.tv. "For all Luis did the hard work himself for the first goal, it was a fantastic first-time ball in from Jordan for the second goal.

"A pass like that catches the defence unaware. If Jordan takes a touch the defenders have time to adjust and maybe we don't get the goal.

"That's why the club's made the investment in Jordan - he's one for the future but he's one for now as well. He's got great qualities, he loves working at his game, he wants to get better all the time and for a young player that's a fantastic attribute. You saw on Wednesday that he has the quality to turn games.

"He's got great energy on the pitch, he likes to get forward. His contribution is there to be seen."