Liverpool great John Aldridge believes Jordan Henderson has stepped out of the shadow of former captain Steven Gerrard.

Henderson inherited the armband in 2015 and was captain in last season's Champions League triumph.

Aldridge told the Irish Independent : "Plenty of Liverpool fans rushed to judgement on Jordan after he struggled in his first few months at the club, and I was among those who questioned whether he was up to the task of leading from the front in a title-winning team.

"It didn't help that he was handed the task of succeeding Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as the club's captain, as it seemed like an almost impossible task and yet now he is every inch a Liverpool great in his own right.

"I don't remember Liverpool fans ever singing Henderson's name, despite him joining the select band of heroes who have lifted the Champions League trophy as Reds captain in Madrid last May.

"All credit to the lad because he has turned himself in a wonderful leader at the heart of this Liverpool team and I suspect manager Jurgen Klopp decided to substitute him with a couple of minutes to go [against Southampton] because he knew the fans would give him the salute he was due.

"Henderson is a shining example of a player who has taken his game up several levels working under Klopp and his coaching staff and when you look around the Liverpool team, there are examples of that."