santly surprised by how well his team played after such a long layoff. "It was tough at times, but just from the stuff I watched the last two days (around the league), it was a better game than I thought I was going to see," Maurice said. Winnipeg pulled within one point of the Coyotes as bo

Whisper it but Liverpool are in the title hunt and Jordan Henderson is providing the platform for them to play. Adam Bate caught up with the Reds captain ahead of their Super Sunday clash with Watford to discuss how Jurgen Klopp has brought Champions League intensity to training and the pressing game that means even the goalkeeper has to be switched on... There have already been some stunning moments in Liverpools season so far. Sadio Manes solo effort against Arsenal was selected as the goal of the month for August. Hendersons long-range strike against Chelsea secured the Premier League award for September. However, its not the individual acts of brilliance that come to mind when watching Klopps Liverpool in full flow. Its the collective. A group of well-drilled players working towards a common goal. This is a team in its truest sense. And its that way through design. As Klopp explained on Monday Night Football, when a team plays to a plan, they can be more effective than any superstar. Think about the passes you have to make to get a player in a No 10 role in a position where he can play the genius pass, said Klopp.Counter-pressing lets you win back the ball nearer to the goal. Its only one pass away from a really good opportunity. No playmaker in the world can be as good as a good counter pressing situation. But this counter-pressing, this gegenpressing, takes time to teach. Henderson at work in Nike Football’s new training apparel Klopp didnt have much of that last season, after being thrust into the job last October. He didnt have his captain for much of the campaign either. Henderson missed the Germans first month in charge with a foot problem and was ruled out of the run-in due to a knee injury.The work that both men have done on the training ground since then is reaping dividends. Speaking to Henderson before he runs out in Nike Footballs training apparel, hes emphatic about the reasons why Liverpool are in better shape than ever. This summer, they went to work. Liverpool vs Watford November 6, 2016, 1:30pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass It was very good. The best pre-season Ive done, Henderson tells Sky Sports. With less of an emphasis placed on commercial distractions, Liverpool were able to focus on their preparations for the coming campaign and properly implement Klopps plans.It was purely based on training, fitness and what we wanted to get out of it, he adds. Tactically and physically it was very hard but enjoyable. The manager took control of the whole thing. He knew what he wanted and I definitely think he got what he wanted. Featuring AeroSwift technology, Nike Football Training apparel is engineered for speed Since pre-season, physically weve been very good. I think were top of a lot of the stats in the league in terms of running and stuff. Obviously, thats the type of game that we play but youve got to have the players to do it. Its no surprise to me that were top of those stats.Its telling that its Henderson himself who raises the subject of Liverpools running statistics. The Reds have covered more ground than any other Premier League side and rank top for high-intensity sprints too. No Liverpool player has run as much as Henderson.Former club captain Steven Gerrard recently cited his successors willingness to do the dirty work as a key asset. Theres more to his game than that - the 26-year-old has completed more passes than any other Premier League player this season - but hes also among the top three midfielders for tackles and recovering the ball. Only two Premier League players have made more tackles than Henderson However, the whole point of Liverpools system is that they work together. Their pressing game cannot work if only one man closes down. Everyone has to do it. Weve bought into what the manager wants us to do, says Henderson. We all want to do that dirty work.Everyone chips in and does that in the team, from the front to the back. Even the goalkeeper has to be switched on and not so static on his line. Hes always thinking about coming out if its over the top so everyone is always alert and doing their job. Henderson stunner rocks Chelsea It definitely has to work as a team. If one or two dont do it then it doesnt really work. Its quite easy to play around the press if that happens. But if everyone does it as a team and youre all tuned in to the same thing then it becomes a lot easier.When youre pressing someone, he might not get the first ball but it rushes the opponent and your team-mate who is following in might nick the next ball or get in on the second pass. Its not about individuals, its all about team work. Henderson is among the top midfielders for recovering possession of the ball As a natural athlete, this approach favours Henderson. Ive always played with a high intensity anyway, he adds. Thats how Ive always been. He regularly hits the 12km mark and has outrun his team-mates in 60 per cent of their matches so far.Indeed, the challenge for Henderson has been knowing when to press and when not to. The aim is to win the ball back high up the pitch as quickly as possible because the opponent is at his most vulnerable upon gaining possession. But what happens if the ball cant be won? Football Score Centre app Sky Sports customers can watch Premier League goals and highlights every weekend at no extra cost. Thats when the pressing team must fall back into a solid defensive shape. Much of the responsibility for coordinating that movement as a team lies with the captain, particularly now hes operating in a more defensive role. Its a new one for the England international.Ive learnt a lot in that respect, says Henderson, now in his sixth season at Anfield. Id probably say over the last two to three months with me playing a different role - a deeper role as a No 6 - the manager has really helped me with that. Henderson has completed more passes than any other player this season Over a short space of time Ive learnt a lot about the position defensively. Its being more disciplined really, thats the biggest thing Ive learnt. But, tactically, the manager has helped everyone. He tells us what he wants us to do and how he wants to do it.Its about doing what the team needs me to do, not what I want to do or what I think I can do. Its about doing my job for the team. If everyone does that Im sure well be very successful and thats the way its gone so far. Highlights of Liverpools 4-2 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park The results certainly bear that out. They were held by Manchester United, drew at Tottenham and suffered a shock defeat at Burnley - I still dont know to this day how we lost that 2-0, says Henderson - but the other 10 matches so far have all ended in victory.With no European football to contend with this season, Liverpool have been making use of their less congested fixture list. But how are those midweeks being spent? Is rest and recuperation the key to success? It seems not. Its definitely not rest, laughs Henderson. Jurgen Klopp discusses his footballing philosophy, preferring his players to be flexible rather than being bogged down by formations. Its all about preparing. We get more training sessions and thats really helping us. Weve really benefited from that this season as were preparing the whole week for most of the games. Were looking at the set up and how we want to play against that particular team.On those days when other teams might be playing in Europe we are working like its a match-day in terms of intensity on those Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Its hard work but were also doing tactical work too. Thats been very beneficial. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. For Liverpool supporters, there are obvious comparisons to be made with the most recent season in which the side was not bound by European commitments. The 2013/14 campaign saw the team make a dramatic tilt at the title only to fall just short in the final few games.With Liverpool currently the Premier Leagues top scorers, Henderson is even more confident three seasons on. I dont think we started that one as well as weve started this year, he says. This season I feel like weve really come out of the traps flying.Of course wed rather be playing in the Champions League. But while were not in that weve got to optimise the opportunity by using the training weeks to our advantage the best that we can. Weve just got to keep the momentum going and keep working hard.Neither Jordan Henderson nor Jurgen Klopp would have it any other way.Jordan Henderson trains fast in Nike Football Training apparel, built for speed with revolutionary AeroSwift technology. Visit nike.com to explore the collection Also See: Five reasons its Liverpools time Key battle: Firmino v Kaboul Carra on Reds title chances Englands in-form XI Qadree Ollison Jersey . It is unclear how long Kallstrom, who was brought in to alleviate the teams midfield problems, will be sidelined. Arsenals communications director, Mark Gonnella, says the club decided to proceed with Kallstroms signing despite the injury. Cheap Falcons Jerseys Authentic . Rodgers was ruled out on Friday by Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. Matt Flynn will make his second consecutive start for the Packers. http://www.cheapfalconsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-kendall-sheffield-jersey . Seager had another triple, a home run and a double in a rare feat not seen in more than 40 years, leading Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners past the New York Yankees 10-2. "It was a weird play," Seager said of the triple in the fourth inning. Steve Bartkowski Jersey . - Carter Verhaeghe scored the winner with 41 seconds to go as the Niagara IceDogs edged the North Bay Battalion 3-2 to even their first-round series at a game apiece in Ontario Hockey League playoff action on Sunday. Wholesale Atlanta Falcons Jerseys .The Toronto Raptors guard, who will represent the Eastern Conference at the All-Star Game in New Orleans on Sunday, says he doesnt complain in the face of adversity "because I know this little girl is just happy for anything.WINNIPEG -- Blake Wheeler says his Winnipeg Jets are racing for a Western Conference playoff spot. Winnipeg got out of the post-Olympic starting blocks quickly with a 3-2 shootout win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night as Wheeler scored his 23rd goal of the season. "A vast percentage of the league is going to be pretty rested after a 2 1/2-week break," said Wheeler, who played for the United States in Sochi, but saw limited minutes as the Americans 13th forward. "I think its an all-out sprint. Theres no time to be tired." Wheeler was joined on the score sheet by Bryan Little. Olli Jokinen put away the shootout winner in the fourth round for Winnipeg (29-26-6). Devin Setoguchi also beat Coyotes goalie Mike Smith in the shootout, while Antoine Vermette was the only Coyote to solve Ondrej Pavelec. Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Martin Hanzal scored in regulation for Phoenix (27-21-11) in the first game for both teams after a 19-day break for the Winter Olympics. The Jets continued their winning ways under new head coach Paul Maurice, improving to 10-3-1 since he replaced the fired Claude Noel. Despite some less-than-crisp play, the coach said he was pleasantly surprised by how well his team played after such a long layoff. "It was tough at times, but just from the stuff I watched the last two days (around the league), it was a better game than I thought I was going to see," Maurice said. Winnipeg pulled within one point of the Coyotes as both teams chase a wild-card playoff spot, although Phoenix has two games in hand. Dallas sits in the final spot with 66 points, one better than Phoenix and Vancouver, and two ahead of Winnipeg. Pavelec made 34 saves for the Jets, with two of his toughest stops coming in overtime. "It wasnt an easy game for both teams. It was the first game back and we didnt know what to expect a little bit," said Pavelec, who stopped Mike Ribeiro to end the shootout. Smith stopped 27 shots for the visitors, including a pair of scoring chances in the final seconds of regulation. "For the most part I felt not too bad," said Smith, whho was a member of Canadas gold medal-winning team in Sochi but didnt see any playing time.dddddddddddd "But like I said, it doesnt matter how you feel, you need to come out on the better side of things." Hanzal put away a rebound to tie the game at 2-2 with Jets centre Jim Slater in the penalty box 6:40 into the third period. Winnipeg took advantage of a giveaway by Coyotes defenceman Zbynek Michalek to take the lead late in the second period. With Ekman-Larsson in the penalty box, Little intercepted Michaleks pass in the low slot and beat Smiths glove hand to make it 2-1. The teams wasted no time reminding fans of one of the differences between international hockey and the NHL game. Winnipegs Zach Bogosian and Phoenixs Rob Klinkhammer dropped the gloves just 78 seconds into the game after Klinkhammer shoved Bogosians defence partner Toby Enstrom into the boards. The Coyotes opened the scoring with an Ekman-Larsson wrist shot from the high slot that went in off the post 12:17 into the first period. It took the Jets less than three minutes to respond, as Wheelers shot from the corner hit Coyotes defenceman Michael Stone in the leg and bounced into the net. Smith was distracted earlier in the sequence by Winnipeg forward Dustin Byfuglien, and the Coyotes argued for an interference call. Smith and Coyotes coach Dave Tippett both said they disagreed with the non-call in their post-game comments. "Personally, I think if theres incidental contact in the net and then the puck goes in after, it shouldve been not a penalty, but it shouldnt have been allowed," Smith said. Notes: Jocelyne Larocque of Ste. Anne, Man., a defenceman for Canadas Olympic gold medal-winning womens hockey team, performed the ceremonial puck drop. a The Jets welcomed back Slater, who missed 52 games with a sports hernia, and left-winger Evander Kane, who sat out the last six games before the Olympic break with a hand injury. a The Jets head to Nashville for a one-game road trip on Saturday, while the Coyotes play in Denver Friday night before heading home. a The teams have one remaining meeting, April 1 in Arizona. 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