Udinese 0 - 1 Liverpool: Henderson is unlikely hero as Liverpool finish on top

It was only his third strike for the club he joined for £16million in the summer of 2011 but he would have had another had it not been for a brilliant reaction save by former Liverpool goalkeeper Daniele Padelli.

But with Young Boys beating Anzhi, the goal was the difference between the Reds reaching the knockout stages for the ninth time in 11 attempts and crashing out.

Henderson had endured a difficult start to his Liverpool career and could have been sold in the summer, but he has expressed his desire to fight for a place and a future at Anfield.

To call it a watershed moment for him would be premature but ensuring the club’s participation in Europe in the new year was an important hurdle to get over.

It was not all plain sailing, however, as Liverpool’s gameplan had to be altered in just the 12th minute when Nuri Sahin was forced off with a bloody nose, meaning an early introduction for the Reds’ leading  European scorer this season, Jonjo Shelvey.

The hosts, despite having nothing to play for, created chances with Mathias Ranegie heading wide and Roberto Pereyra forcing goalkeeper Jose Reina to tip over his effort.

Henderson took full advantage of his first sight of goal in the 24th minute.

Stewart Downing’s corner dropped to Luis Suarez and, although his header only reached Suso, the young Spaniard had the presence of mind to lay the ball back for Henderson to drill a shot past Padelli.

Udinese briefly threatened when Reina had to make a low save from Diego Fabbrini but Liverpool finished the stronger. Henderson must have thought he had doubled his tally in the 65th minute with a perfectly timed side-foot volley from Jose Enrique’s cross, but Padelli stuck up a hand to tip it over. Four minutes later the goalkeeper produced another stunning stop to deny Suarez from close range.

However, just as Udinese started to step up the pressure for an equaliser their chances were diminished by a second yellow card for Giovanni Pasquale. But substitute Antonio di Natale  almost produced the cruellest of endings for Liverpool when he fired over with the last kick of the match.