Gerrard tells Henderson "there are two sides to a story" in plea response

Steven Gerrard has responded to Jordan Henderson's claim that the Premier League do not care about player's welfare.

The Liverpool captain was fuming this week as fixtures in the top tier were allowed to go ahead despite rising cases of Covid around football.

In a meeting on Monday, all 20 clubs agreed to fulfil the festive period of matches - which left a sour taste in Henderson's mouth.

He said: "I don't think people can appreciate how intense it is until you actually see it first hand."

But ex-Reds captain and Aston Villa boss Gerrard has replied, saying that there is two sides to the story.

Villa face Chelsea on Boxing Day next and the Liverpool legend agreed with Henderson but admitted that it is a tough problem to solve.

When asked about the midfielder's comments, Gerrard said: "I certainly respect that opinion.

"I think there's two sides to this, there's obviously the player's welfare from a Covid situation, I think everyone in general life is trying to deal with trying to protect themselves and their own family.

"But also from a football point of view, trying to deal with the situation when you've got a game on the 26th and the 28th of December, two games within such a short space of time, you're also worried for the footballer's welfare from a football point of view too.

"So trying to manage and deal with both situations is a big challenge right now, but one where we will try to protect the players as best as we can."

Henderson was particularly incensed by the added strain of Covid impacting footballers and their families at a point in the season when games are coming thick and fast anyway.

Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "Football to us is everything and we want to be able to perform at the highest level every time we set foot on the pitch. And unfortunately, in this period it is difficult to do that.

"That has been like this for a few years now and it has been difficult but then, on top of that, you chuck in Covid and it becomes even harder and even worse.

"I am concerned that nobody really takes player welfare seriously.

Should the Premier League take Jordan Henderson's complaints seriously? Comment below

"I think decisions get made - of course we want to play, as footballers we want to get out there and play - but I am worried about player welfare and I don't think anybody does take that seriously enough, especially in this period, when Covid is here.

"We will try to have conversations in the background and try to have some sort of influence going forward, but at the minute I don't feel the players get the respect they deserve in terms of having somebody being able to speak for them independently and having the power to say actually this isn't right for player welfare."