Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson is not looking for excuses to explain away his indifferent first season at Anfield, but believes the whole squad have lessons to learn from a disappointing campaign.
The England Under-21 international arrived from Sunderland in the summer at a cost of £16million and found the going difficult after a bright start. He has played in a variety of positions, often on the right side of midfield, and has never really had a settled run in his favoured central role.
"I've played in a lot of different positions throughout the course of this season but I don't think that's an excuse," he said. "That gelling process doesn't just happen overnight, but I think good players should be able to play with each other pretty quickly."
He added: "It depends which way you look at it but, of course, it takes time for everyone to gel. Obviously I want to play in every game that I'm fit and available for, so yes, I've enjoyed playing on a regular basis and hopefully I can carry on doing that."
Henderson, who scored only his second goal of the season on Tuesday with a well-taken effort against Chelsea, has not been the only player to underperform this season.
Liverpool's woeful home record of just six wins at Anfield has seen them slip to eighth in the table, although they have a chance to move back above Everton in the final match against Swansea on Sunday should the Toffees slip up at home to Newcastle.
Even winning the Carling Cup and reaching the FA Cup final cannot mask how poor the Reds have been in the league.
"We've got a lot to learn, but if we can do that and rectify the mistakes we've made this season then we can definitely be better equipped to improve next year," Henderson told LFC Weekly.
"Overall, it's been an up and down season but I think we have achieved great things as a team in winning the Carling Cup and getting to the final of the FA Cup.
"But we know our league form will need to improve for next year. We are well aware of that and I'm sure that we'll work on that and we'll get better at it."
Source: PA
