Friday, September 29, 2023
FIFA

Jordan Henderson’s latest Saudi Pro League match was watched by just over 900 fans

Jordan Henderson’s move from Liverpool to Saudi club Al Ettifaq has resulted in him playing in front of crowds below 1,000.

Henderson swapped the raucous atmosphere of Anfield for the Saudi Pro League this summer in a heavily-criticised move.

Henderson now plays in Saudi Arabia with Al Ettifaq, where Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is his managergetty

The former Reds skipper recently came under fire despite insisting his move to the Middle East was not financially motivated.

However, regardless of his stance, what can not be disputed is Henderson now performing to crowd numbers less than those seen in the National League.

His latest outing came in Al Ettifaq’s 3-1 win at Abha Club on Saturday, a result that keeps Steven Gerrard’s side in fifth place, three-points adrift of leaders Al Hilal.

The game, played in eerie circumstances, registered an official attendance of  just 976 spectators – a far cry from Henderson’s time at Anfield.

Skipper Henderson started the game alongside former Liverpool teammate Georginio Wijnaldum in midfield.

Former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele started up front while recent addition Demarai Gray came on midway through the second half.

Other notable names to have featured in the game include Abha Club’s former Sevilla and PSG midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak and ex-Lyon forward Karl Toko Ekambi, who netted his side’s solitary goal.

In Henderson’s five games so far for Al Ettifaq, he has failed to play in an attendance of over 14,000 people.

@spl_enA scattering of fans could be seen in attendance during Saturday’s clash[/caption]

His highest came in their season opening 2-1 win against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr when 13,930 people attended.

A slightly lower crowd attended the 2-0 defeat to league leader’s Al Hilal last month but the matches against Al Hazem [1,024 spectators], Al Khaleej [4,200] and Damac [2,281] have seen drastically lower turnouts.

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