Jordan Henderson explains why he loved his on-field argument with Virgil van Dijk against Napoli
The Liverpool skipper was pictured in a furious confrontation with the Dutch centre-back during the Reds must-win game
Jordan Henderson has lifted the lid on his heated confrontation with Virgil van Dijk during Liverpool's crunch Champions League win over Napoli this week.
The pair were pictured in a fierce debate after the defender's challenge on Dries Mertens - which resulted in the Dutchman being suspended for the Red's next European match.
The England midfielder has now lifted the lid on the on-field spat by revealing heated confrontations with your team-mates is actually a good thing.
Speaking to , Henderson said: "I love stuff like that because it shows you're a proper team, and it shows you care and want to win.
"Top teams have that demand from each other.
"I was having a go at him and he was probably having a go at me! That's the relationships we've got here."
"Everything on the pitch is to help the team and afterwards if you want to speak about it you can sort it out.
"We need people demanding from each other and digging in deep when it's tough.
"I think we've got that and that was just a little instance of that, I'm sure it happens more often than not. The more of that the better for me."
Van Dijk, who has been revered for his leadership skills since his £75m switch from Southampton, was also quizzed on the incident.
Most Read in Football
"You need to be hard with each other. When things aren’t going right you need to tell each other, otherwise, it’s going to be too easy.
"I think that’s a sign of a good team. When people are shouting at me I take it because they want to make me better and their mistake they take it as well if I shout to them.
"That’s how it is, we’re all grown-ups, we take it and after the game, if you’re not happy with it then you discuss it.
"It is what it is."