Jordan Henderson has declared that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is one of the best leaders in the game, as reported by the Daily Star.

Henderson has very recently been appointed as Gerrard’s vice captain at the Anfield club, and many see the dynamic midfielder as the natural successor to the one club man.

Gerrard has come under criticism in recent weeks, with some suggesting that his performances have been below par, and have contributed to a questionable start for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

The Reds have not yet hit the heights of last season, when they put together a surprising title challenge, although they are now missing their talismanic striker Luis Suarez, who joined Barcelona in the summer.

Henderson has come to the fore since last season, and his all action displays have won many plaudits.

He was full of praise for his captain, saying: “Stevie’s probably not only the best captain for Liverpool and before with England, but in the game itself.

“Being around him has benefited me a lot. It’s been huge. Every day I watch him. It’s his desire to improve.

“He’s been the best and most influential player here for such a long time but he still wants to get better.

“He takes training really seriously and sets the tone for how things should be. Everyone else follows.

“He does a lot of things that people on the outside don’t see. On the pitch he’s a great leader.

“You can see the goals, the passes and the tackles he makes; the way he inspires the team.

“But off the pitch he conducts himself brilliantly too. He’s a genuinely nice person and everybody in the squad knows they can go to him.

“The most important thing is he puts the team in front of everybody else including himself. The most important thing is the team.”

Gerrard retired from international football this summer after England’s disappointing display at the World Cup in Brazil.