Jordan Henderson faces mixed reviews in Chelsea debut against Brentford

Jordan Henderson made his first start for Chelsea in a match against his former club, Brentford, on Friday evening. The 36-year-old midfielder, who was returning from a wrist injury, was selected by manager Xabi Alonso to play in a defensive midfield role alongside Valentin Barco.

Reactions to his performance were polarized. Some Chelsea supporters expressed immediate approval on social media, praising his vocal presence and ability to provide rhythm to the midfield during the first half.

However, other reports highlighted a difficult debut as Chelsea suffered a 3-0 defeat. British media outlets, including the Evening Standard and The Sun, issued low ratings for the midfielder, citing a lack of passing depth and sharpness. Henderson was specifically criticized for a loss of possession that contributed to Brentford’s second goal. During the match, he was also subject to jeering from the Brentford crowd.