Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson beats Kevin De Bruyne to win FWA Footballer of the Year

Jordan Henderson has been rewarded for his outstanding season on and off the pitch by being named the FWA Footballer of the Year.  

He becomes the 12th Liverpool player to claim the individual prize and the first since Mohamed Salah just two years ago.

The Reds captain beat off competition from his own team-mates including Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane and also Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne and Marcus Rashford to cap off an extraordinary 12 months. 

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been named the FWA Footballer of the Year

Henderson has inspired Liverpool to their first league title since 1990 this season

His form has seen him come out on top ahead of Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne

The Premier League champions dominated the voting but Henderson still received more than a quarter of the votes.

As well as the top five of Henderson, De Bruyne, Rashford, Van Dijk and Mane, 10 other players received votes from FWA members including Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Raheem Sterling, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Sergio Aguero, Adama Traore, Danny Ings, Jack Grealish, James Madison and Jonny Evans. 

Henderson’s charitable work off the pitch has not gone unnoticed.

Henderson instigated the #playerstogether initiative at the height of the coronavirus crisis to ‘distribute money to where it is needed most’ in the fight against the global pandemic.

A statement, sent out by the Premier League captains, said that funds will go to ‘those fighting for us on the NHS frontline as well as other key areas of need’.

On the pitch, Henderson has been inspirational, cajoling his Liverpool team-mates into securing their first league title in 30 years.

Henderson’s presence has seen him come out on top ahead of key performing team-mates such as Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. 

Henderson has also been rewarded for his active work off the pitch in the coronavirus crisis

Henderson helped to instigate the #playerstogether charitable fund for the NHS

Henderson embraces manager Jurgen Klopp following a fine Liverpool campaign

Henderson has scored four times in 30 appearances, but has been a talismanic figure in raising the standards of his team-mates to secure the earliest league title in Premier League history. 

Liverpool’s triumph was confirmed with seven games to spare, despite the three-month hiatus caused by the outbreak of Covid-19 in March. 

He heaped praise on his team-mates after Liverpool were finally able to get their hands on the trophy following the 5-3 midweek victory over Chelsea.

He told Sky Sports: ‘Walking up there was amazing. The lads deserved their moment. Thankfully, the families were up there watching, that was a big thing for us. It’s been an amazing season, to crown it off like that was special. 

‘The start was really good and from there we just grew and grew as the season went on. We were stronger, more confident, more ruthless, really.

‘We found a way to win on so many occasions and that was down to mentality. The lads have been great all season and deserve what they are getting now.’

Henderson celebrates one of his four Premier League goals this season with Roberto Firmino

He added: ‘To get 97 points last year and not win was hard to take. We reacted a few weeks later, won the Champions League and then started the season a few weeks later with unfinished business.

‘It’s been an amazing season and I am so thankful to be part of this club and team that has won the Premier League after 30 years.’

Manchester City’s De Bruyne was the other outstanding candidate to take home the award.

The Belgian has enjoyed a fine campaign despite City’s struggles, returning a haul of 11 goals and 22 assists so far.