Jordan Henderson says Liverpool won’t get carried away

Liverpool vice-captain Jordan Henderson insists they will not get carried away with beating reigning Premier League champions Manchester City as the memories of last season’s title heartbreak provide a reminder of what can go wrong.

Eleven months ago, the Reds defeated City to take pole position in the race for the championship but the euphoria dissipated a fortnight later when they lost at home to Chelsea and handed the initiative back to their rivals.

Liverpool eventually came up just short despite an incredible run of 12 victories in their final 14 matches and Henderson is urging the team to replicate a similar sequence to secure Champions League football once again.

“There are 11 games to go this time. We finished strongly last year, we won 12 of our last 14 games but we just missed out,” said Henderson, speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s trip to Burnley.

“That was disappointing but we have learned a lot, and hopefully we can use that experience in the last 11 games and give it a real go and win as many games as we can.

“We have got a good enough squad to be doing that but we just have to make sure that we don’t get too carried away with the result.”

Second-placed City are only seven points ahead of Liverpool in fifth and Henderson has not ruled out catching Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

“It’s always possible,” he added. “The main thing is to concentrate on ourselves as much as we can, keep the momentum going and see where it takes us really.”

Henderson is Liverpool’s leading assist-maker this season but he scored his fourth goal — a brilliant curling effort past Joe Hart from distance, only to be overshadowed by an even better effort by Philippe Coutinho to win the game.

Henderson accepts chipping in from midfield is something he needs to do more of.

“I caught it well and thankfully it went in but maybe Philippe’s was just a bit better, wasn’t it?” he said.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers believes the form of Coutinho should put him in contention for player of the season prizes.

The Brazilian playmaker has been outstanding in the Reds’ recent resurgence.

Rodgers said: “He is certainly going to be up there, there is no doubt about that. He has played very well.

“I think that period the team suffered at the start of the season, with our lack of penetration — he is the player that thrives on that. He is normally the player that makes the last pass for those players running in to score the goals.

“That allows him and his technical quality to really shine and he is starting to add goals to his game, and scoring some fantastic goals. Very importantly, he is contributing to the team and there are still improvements to make from someone so young.”

Rodgers revealed youngster Jordon Ibe’s knee injury is likely to keep him out until the end of March but captain Steven Gerrard is making good progress in his recovery from the hamstring injury.