Jordan Henderson has the “hardest job in world football” by captaining Liverpool as he had to take over from Steven Gerrard, insists Jurgen Klopp.

The skipper was omitted from the starting XI for the 7-0 victory over Spartak Moscow on Wednesday as fans have begun to get on his back over his performances and actual value to the team.

However, with the Merseyside derby with Everton on the horizon, Klopp insisted that Henderson’s absence was only so he could be rested and that he will definitely play at Anfield on Sunday.

Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies Show all 10 1 /10 Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies GETTY IMAGES Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies 1933, Liverpool 7 Everton 4, First Division

The 7-4 score-line from this first division match is the highest scoring in the derby's history. Toffees legend Dixie Dean (pictured) led the line for Everton, scoring twice himself as the visitors scored four at Anfield. This would normally be enough but not on this occasion. A hat-trick from Barton saw the home side romp to victory in this 11 goal epic. GETTY IMAGES Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies 1991, Liverpool 0 Everton 0; Everton 4 Liverpool 4 (replay, AET); Everton 1 Liverpool 0 (second replay), FA Cup Fifth Round

A truly epic FA Cup tie was finally won by Everton after a second replay. The first tie at Anfield was a dismal 0-0 affair but the match exploded into life in the replay at Goodison Park. Liverpool led four times after a double from Peter Beardsley and strikes from Ian Rush and John Barnes but Everton hit back with Graeme Sharp and Tony Cottee scoring twice each. It seemed that the drama was all too much for Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish, who resigned soon after, with Everton going on to win the third match with a Dave Watson (pictured) goal. GETTY IMAGES Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies 1999, Liverpool 3 Everton 2, Premier League

Liverpool came into this derby seeking their first win over their nearest rivals since 1994, and were to do it in truly thrilling style. Olivier Dacourt had put the Toffees ahead after just 40-seconds before Robbie Fowler equalised. The Liverpool striker celebrated with the now infamous line-sniffing incident which manager Gerard Houllier defended by saying "he was eating the grass". Fowler and Patrick Berger appeared to have put Liverpool into an unassailable lead until Francis Jeffers nicked one back. A grand stand finish was set-up with Danny Cadamarteri seeing a shot cleared off the line by a young Steven Gerrard. GETTY IMAGES Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies 2001, Everton 2 Liverpool 3, Premier League

Another 3-2 victory for Liverpool, this time sealed thanks to a last-gasp winner from a 40-yard Gary McAllister free-kick. Emile Heskey and Marcus Babbel had netted for Liverpool before Duncan Ferguson and David Unsworth had cancelled out the goals. When Igor Biscan was sent off for the visitors it looked as though the game was heading for a draw. That was until McAllister's shot bent in beyond the despairing reach of Everton keeper Paul Gerrard. GETTY IMAGES Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies 1977, Everton 2 Liverpool 2, Everton 0 Liverpool 3 (replay), FA Cup semi-final

Liverpool were on their way to league and European Cup glory when they also claimed a place in the FA Cup final with victory at the second attempt over the Toffees at Maine Road. By the time of the replay, Everton were still fuming about a Bryan Hamilton goal that was disallowed late in the first game. The Reds were then to go on and rub the Toffee's noses in it with goals from Jimmy Case (pictured), Ray Kennedy and Phil Neal sealing their place in the final. GETTY IMAGES Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies 1984, Liverpool 0 Everton 1, First Division

A match that announced Everton as the major force in English football. Everton were in the midst of an excellent run when they travelled to Anfield. Graeme Sharp's (pictured) thundering 25-yard volley, later voted the goal of the season, was the difference on the score-sheet, but Everton's overall display hinted at a wider gap opening up between the two titans of English football. Everton went on to win the league, the European Cup Winners Cup and make the final of the FA Cup. GETTY IMAGES Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies 2006, Everton 3 Liverpool 0, Premier League

This fixture saw Everton record their biggest victory over their rivals for 42 years. Everton had got the season off to a flying start and were to continue it with victory over Liverpool. Tim Cahill opened the scoring before Andy Johnson added a second in the first half. After the break Liverpool came back strongly but Everton stayed firm before Johnson capped a fine performance and sealed the victory in the last minute with his second of the match. GETTY IMAGES Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies 1982, Everton 0 Liverpool 5, First Division

Sometimes referred to as the Ian Rush match, this was a game in which the Welsh wizard helped cement his iconic status at Anfield. Everton were hindered by the sending off of Glenn Keeley, who was making his debut - but you get the feeling Rush was always going to dismantle the Toffees on this day. Rush finished the game with four goals giving a true master class in finishing. GETTY IMAGES Everton v Liverpool: The best Merseyside derbies 1989, Everton 2 Liverpool 3 (AET), FA Cup Final

This all-Merseyside Wembley meeting was heavily overshadowed by the Hillsborough disaster but proved a true classic. Liverpool led after an early John Aldridge goal but Everton forced extra time with a late Stuart McCall effort. Ian Rush, so often Everton's tormenter, came off the bench to put Liverpool back ahead and then settled the match after McCall equalised again with a spectacular volley. GETTY IMAGES

“I live in this city and I get it a little bit sometimes how people are talking about it,” said Klopp. “Being the skipper of Liverpool is the hardest job in world football because the man who had the armband before was Steven Gerrard. Sorry, he finished playing football, we cannot get him back.

“I want everyone to respect that Jordan Henderson is our skipper because he deserved it and he is the right man for the job. That doesn't mean he can play all the games. Sorry. He is such an important player for us - I don't get why I have to say that.

“I only spoke about it because I knew people would say, ‘Oh yes, fantastic game (against Spartak). Jordan didn't play so make a sh** story of it’.

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“They are sh** stories. Actually it is no story apart from in England and especially in Liverpool it is a story. Now I have said a little bit about it, the story is done.”

Henderson was a victim of recurring injuries last season and Klopp wants to ensure that doesn’t happen again by resting him when the opportunity arises, even though he is club captain.

“I am not sure if it is English or old-fashioned but even a captain cannot play all the time, that's how it is. You cannot bring him only because of the armband,” he added.