Jordan Henderson on his split from Liverpool: It was hard to watch.

According to The Sun: Jordan Henderson has returned to the Premier League, showcasing strong performances for Brentford. Given this, his chances of making the England squad under Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup look quite promising.

The midfielder, who will soon mark his 86th appearance for the national team in a friendly match against Wales at Wembley on Thursday, has gone through one of the toughest periods in his career, part of which was undoubtedly due to his own decisions.

Henderson, 35, has openly discussed his struggles after leaving Liverpool, where he spent 12 years.

He admitted that after leaving the club, he couldn’t even watch matches of his former team.

Interestingly, some football fans may sympathize with the player who accepted a £350,000 a week deal moving to Saudi Arabia to play for Al-Ettifaq.

This move became a real PR disaster. Naively, Henderson, who had previously championed LGBTQ+ rights, thought he could 'help causes and communities' from the inside.

However, realizing that this move was a mistake from both a personal and professional standpoint, Henderson transferred to Ajax and later returned to the Premier League with Brentford in the summer.

This week, Henderson was in good spirits during a meeting with journalists at St. George's Park. However, when asked about his decision to leave Liverpool in 2023, he changed his tone to a more serious one.

“It was a really difficult time when I left Liverpool. I was there for a long time, 12 years. Leaving Liverpool was a big and really tough step. It was my life for so long, and then suddenly it was all over (he snapped his fingers), so I went through a tough period after that. I had a great connection with the club and dedicated a significant portion of my life there.”

“It felt like a breakup. It was just hard. And I think if you ask many players, when they leave a club, not just Liverpool, it’s a tough period. But over time, things change.”

Undoubtedly, the decision to join former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq was a major mistake, as he could have gained valuable experience in Serie A in Italy or simply transferred to Ajax, where he eventually ended up.

This move to the Middle East adversely affected his reputation, and although he left Saudi Arabia to transfer to Ajax in January 2024, then England manager Gareth Southgate did not select him for the Euros due to his declining form.

“I don’t believe Saudi Arabia was the reason I missed the Euros. When I was in Saudi Arabia, I was probably in every camp leading up to the Euros.”

“In the past, I might have made different decisions. But at that moment, that was how I felt, and the decision I made regarding Saudi Arabia was for many different reasons.”

How do you cope with criticism and doubts in your values?

“The last few years I’ve been through some tough moments, but when you come out on the other side, you remind yourself that you learned a lot about yourself, and it makes you stronger.”

“Of course, I’m not perfect, and I’ve made mistakes in the past, throughout my career. But all I've ever tried to do is the right thing and help as many people around me as I can.”

“I think in football, you always need to prove something, and when you think you don’t, that’s a problem.”

“Throughout my career, I’ve always consistently tried to prove something, so that hasn’t changed. I’ve just tried to do my job well in the team and play as well as I can while also trying to enjoy it.”

“Playing week in and week out helps with that. But overall, I really enjoy the start of the season and am happy to be back in the Premier League — it has given me energy to play in the best league in the world.”

Anticipation around Henderson's return to the Premier League is rising. Now he has the chance to prove that his positive changes, both in his game and personal life, can impact his career. In the face of the criticism accompanying him, support from new teammates and fans could be a decisive factor in his future success at Brentford and on the international stage. With the team change, Henderson has moved closer to his goal — to continue playing at a high level and possibly secure a spot in the World Cup.