Jamie Carragher suggests Henderson theory may be behind Michael Edwards’ Liverpool exit

Former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards left the club in 2022 after being involved in a number of significant transfer deals during his time at Anfield

Klopp comments on Liverpool’s struggles this season

Jamie Carragher has raised questions about the situation surrounding Michael Edwards’ departure as Liverpool’s sporting director, pointing to indications of internal disagreements over Jordan Henderson’s contract extension in 2021.

Club captain Henderson signed a lengthy extension despite being 31 at the time. While admitting reports of Edwards’ own future around the same time were “probably coincidental” in terms of timing, former Reds defender Carragher has voiced his concerns that remain to this day.

Edwards’ departure was announced in 2021 and was succeeded by Julian Ward, who is said to have played a big part in the signing of Luis Diaz, among others. But Ward himself will also leave Anfield after just a year in his new position.

“Henderson has given Liverpool excellent service but the length of the contract [four years] was a surprise and went against FSG policy towards players in their 30s,” wrote Carragher in his column for The Telegraph. “We’ll sort it. There’s no doubt about it,” said Klopp.

“Within 24 hours of an agreement being reached, it was reported that sporting director Michael Edwards was contemplating his future and has since left him. The timing was probably coincidental, but there was strong evidence – unchallenged – that there was internal disagreement about the length and value of Henderson’s expansion.

“That worried me at the time and worried me even more when I hear the echoes when Klopp talks about the future of Roberto Firmino and James Milner,” added Carragher. However, he acknowledged that other extensions – notably for Klopp himself and last season’s top scorer Mohamed Salah – were not among those he felt were “controversial”.

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