Jordan Henderson admitted to being nervous before returning to Anfield for the first time since leaving in 2023 as he watched the Reds lift the Premier League from the stands in 2025.

However, the former Liverpool captain had no need to feel unwelcome, with fans delighted to see him back. Anfield then made their feelings even more clear to Henderson as he returned with Brentford on the final day of last season. To the annoyance of his then employers, he was given an ovation by the home support, and promptly returned the favour.

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david.comerford

Not sure I can get behind booing Henderson even if he plays for Chelsea

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Though supporter reaction mainly seemed to be as a result of his antics towards the referee rather than purely his affiliation to Chelsea, the boos have created a debate on TalkingPoints, where fans have taken differing views on whether Henderson deserved better.

Some fans think Henderson should not have been booed

Liverpool supporters have become no strangers to booing those affiliated with them, with Trent Alexander-Arnold perhaps the highest profile example of a player who fell foul of the Anfield crowd’s expectations.

Although his situation was not comparable to Alexander-Arnold’s, Henderson still left the club under a bit of a cloud, and for many the circumstances surrounding his exit left a bitter taste in the mouth, sullying some of his successes with the Reds.

A former Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup-winning captain should not be fearing his own reception at Anfield, but it said a lot that Henderson was not sure how he would be received after pushing to join Al Ettifaq in 2023.

For some, Henderson’s history of success and loyalty to Liverpool absolutely trump anything and everything he could do for the rest of his career. The 36-year-old was always a top ambassador for the Reds and clearly loves the club. In the eyes of many supporters, someone who has given what he has to Liverpool simply deserves respect, no matter who they turn up playing for, no matter how strange it may seem.

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peter.lynch

Gotta expect the boos if you captained the club only to end up at Chelsea of all places! Stevie G would never

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Henderson’s antics could make him a legitimate target

While there is an element of disrespect about supporters booing a player who was a huge figure for them in a brilliant era, decrying them for being dissenting towards Henderson does ignore the context around Wednesday’s game.

Though there were a smattering of boos for the England international at the start of the game, it was when he began haranguing the referee that fans really decided to let him have it.

Henderson was always a player who gives everything on the pitch and pushes to turn the marginal gains in his favour. Liverpool fans were on the right side of this for over a decade, but they saw how frustrating it can be to come up against on Wednesday. Feeling that he himself was being disrespectful in his approach, supporters could easily argue that their boos were justified.

Henderson also appeared to be revelling in his role as pantomime villain. He smirked towards the Main Stand when grabbing the ball and walking to the penalty spot as a distraction tactic for Morgan Rogers’ penalty, while it should be noted that the former Reds skipper was down as Chelsea’s fifth penalty taker during the shootout.

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james.brooke

Just a bit of pantomime. Personally I’m not sure I can get behind a decorated former Liverpool captain cancelling his contract to desperately push through a move to Chelsea. Wouldnt have been booed if he hadn’t have acted like a helmet all game either

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He clearly had designs on being the match winner for his new team, at the expense of his old one, and that is something no Liverpool fan should be getting behind.

Had Henderson rocked up, kept his head down and focused on quietly getting a result for Chelsea, most fans would barely have had any kind of reason to be upset with him. But the Blues No. 14 did the very opposite of that, and in doing so, he could have few complaints at feeling the ire of those who sang his name for years.