Jordan Henderson has always divided football fans throughout his career. While the Englishman is fantastic at keeping possession and protecting the back four, he's often accused of playing too many sidewards passes. Some people even believe he isn't good enough for Liverpool, such as Ruud Gullit, who said on beIN SPORTS before the Bayern Munich game that he lacks intelligence. "I think they need a better player," said Gullit. "Fabinho was doing better there, he's more intelligent. Henderson is a hard-working holding midfielder, that's it. "It's like [Paul] Scholes. Scholes was more than that. Scholes was intelligent, clever, that's the player you need in that position. Clever balls. I don't think Henderson has that." Well, safe to say Henderson proved Gullit and thousands of other football fans very wrong on Tuesday evening at Anfield. Liverpool's captain absolutely bossed it against Bayern with his range of passing, energy and determination to win possession back. He was everywhere. Indeed, the general consensus amongst fans and the media at half-time was that Henderson's first-half performance was his best in a Liverpool shirt. His finest moment came in the 12th minute, when he picked out Mohamed Salah with an inch-perfect pass over the top of Bayern's defence to put the Egyptian through on goal. Salah couldn't have hoped for a better pass, but he was unable to get decent contact on his shot, which was easily saved by Manuel Neuer. Check out Henderson's 50-yard pass in the video below. How's that for accuracy? Henderson has never been the most glamorous midfielder and for that reason he's severely under-rated at Liverpool. It's about time he was given the appreciation he deserves. News Now - Sport News<doc-sep>Liverpool host Bayern Munich tonight in one of the most anticipated Champions League ties of the round. Some of the top players in world football will be on show at Anfield tonight as the Reds attempt to recreate the stunning run they had in this competition last year, which led them all the way to the final. Below we have picked out the combined XI from both sides, based on this season. GK - Alisson This was a really tough decision. Manuel Neuer has suffered with poor form earlier this season but since the turn of the year he looks almost back to his best. A slight finger injury kept him out for a couple of weeks earlier this month but he should be in between the sticks at Anfield. Having said all that, Alisson has been nothing short of a revelation for Jurgen Klopp’s men this season. On current form, he just edges it. RB - Joshua Kimmich The best right-back in world football. There are not too many top-class full-backs knocking about at the minute but Kimmich is a player who is forever reliable and quality on the ball. Trent Alexander-Arnold has had an impressive season but he has a way to go to reach Kimmich’s level. CB - Virgil Van Dijk A contender for PFA Player of the Year, Virgil Van Dijk has been worth every penny of the £75m Liverpool spent on him. Composed, calm on the ball and strong in the air, Van Dijk is a must have in this team. CB - Mats Hummels The German international has been one of Europe’s top defenders for several years now. He has won almost everything in world football, including the World Cup and is still holding the Bayern back-line together, but in truth, there is little competition for this place. Jerome Boateng can’t get into the team whilst Dejan Lovren, despite what he thinks of himself, is not one of the better defenders in Europe. LB - David Alaba Another tough choice in the full-back position. Andy Robertson has been excellent for Liverpool over the past two seasons but David Alaba is top quality on the ball, even being used in central midfield at times by Bayern Munich. Both players have brilliant set-piece deliveries and there barely anything between them on current form, but we have given Alaba the nod here.<doc-sep>
Four current or former Bayern Munich players also make it in (Picture: Getty) Xherdan Shaqiri has picked more of his old Bayern Munich teammates than Liverpool players in his dream XI as he prepares to take on his former club on Tuesday night. The Merseysiders travel to the Allianz Arena to take on the German champions in what promises to be a thrilling tie, with Shaqiri returning to Bayern for the first time since he left the club in 2015. The Swiss international won the Champions League and two Bundesliga titles during his time in Bavaria before finding his way to Anfield via Inter Milan and Stoke City. How Shaqiri’s Champions League dream team would line up (Picture: Sport1) In a big interview with German show Sport1, Shaqiri was asked to name his dream XI – though just two Liverpool players made the cut. Both Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk found their way into the back-line, ahead of the likes of David Alaba and Jerome Boateng – both of whom Shaqiri won the Champions League alongside. However, there was no room in attack for Liverpool’s top scorer both this season and last, Mohamed Salah. Instead, Shaqiri went for a three-man attack with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on either flank and Bayern goalscorer supreme Robert Lewandowsi through the middle. Van Dijk is in Shaqiri’s dream XI but won’t play at the Allianz Arena (Picture: Getty) Liverpool will be without Van Dijk when they take on Bayern, with the Dutch defender suspended for the first leg, and Shaqiri admits it will be a blow to lose his dream XI centre-back. ‘He is a very strong defender who’s having a great season and who has made us better and more stable at the back,’ the Swiss playmaker told Sport1. ‘We will miss him. But this is also a great opportunity for other players to impose themselves and show they have the quality to survive in big games.’