Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers challenges Jordan Henderson to score 'upwards of 10 goals' this season

Henderson only netted five times last term despite enjoying the best season of his career so far

Jordan Henderson celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Manchester City in the International Champions Cup in New York (Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers has set Jordan Henderson the target of scoring 10 goals this season in order to continue the fine form that he displayed for Liverpool last term.

Henderson enjoyed a breakthrough year for the Reds last season as he cemented his place in the Liverpool midfield alongside Steven Gerrard. However, despite his impressive performances, the 24-year-old only netted five times, and Rodgers has challenged him to double his tally by showing the type of finishing he displays in training “day in, day out”.

Speaking after Henderson scored in the pre-season penalty shootout victory over Manchester City, Rodgers said: “That is the objective for Jordan this year. That finish he made for the equaliser, he does that day in and day out in training.

“He’s a player that is so fit and so strong. He is such a team player and does so much unselfish for work for the team but this year we are asking him to get more into the box.

“His strength is that he can really penetrate the defensive line and he is an athlete – he can run all day – so I would expect him to be getting upwards of 10 goals this season because he has the quality and the tactical nose to arrive in the area to do that.”

Liverpool battled back from going behind twice to drawl level with Coty at the New York Tankees Stadium, before seeing off the Premier League champions in a shootout that neither side would’ve been too concerned with losing.

The two sides will meet again on 23 August in their second Premier League match of the season when the stakes will be much higher, as the top-two from last season collide early on at the Etihad Stadium.

Henderson scored four times in the league last season and once in the Capital One Cup in the 4-2 victory over Notts County, but he is yet to get his international tally off the mark having made 13 appearances to-date.