Jordan Henderson has confessed that departing Liverpool was so agonising that it was like breaking up from a romantic partner. The midfielder has also disclosed he was so wounded by the entire ordeal that he couldn't bring himself to watch Liverpool's matches following his Anfield exit in the summer of 2023. England star Henderson, 35, sent seismic waves through football when he departed Liverpool two years ago to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq.

However, within half a year, Henderson abandoned Saudi Arabia for Ajax and has now returned to English football with Brentford, though he remains scarred by his Liverpool departure The former captain savoured an extraordinary 12-year stint at Anfield where he secured the Premier League title and won a Champions League, finding the separation the most challenging period of his career.

Henderson revealed: "It was a really tough period when I left Liverpool, I was there for a long period of time, 12 years.

"Leaving Liverpool itself was huge and really difficult and at any point it was going to be hard because it had been my life for so long and then it is just gone like that......