• Liverpool captain concerned with niggling foot injury • Henderson: ‘If I do play what is the risk and how long could I be out’

Jordan Henderson has said Liverpool must balance the importance of Monday’s visit to Arsenal against the risk of him missing several games with the foot injury that has placed his involvement at the Emirates Stadium in doubt.

The Liverpool captain was forced out of Monday’s win over Bournemouth with a problem in his heel and admits he is unsure over the extent of the injury and whether he will be fit to face Arsène Wenger’s side. The 25-year-old is being assessed on a daily basis and a decision on his fitness may not be taken until the day of the game.

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He explained: “I had pains in the bottom of both feet for a few months but nothing too major. Then in the last 10-15 minutes against Stoke I felt it bad and I couldn’t really put my weight on it. That was the first time I really felt it and I couldn’t train for the next week but I managed to play in the Bournemouth game, but in the second half there was a problem with the weight-bearing again and with 40 minutes to go it was wise to bring me off.”

Henderson has not given up hope of leading Liverpool against Arsenal but admits he risks spending several weeks on the sidelines should he aggravate the injury.

The midfielder added: “That is the problem. If I do play what is the risk and how long could I be out potentially if I do something in the game?

“There are many factors that the manager and the medical team need to decide. I just want to play on Monday hopefully but if I can’t I need to get fit as soon as possible.

“It has settled down over the last few days but I don’t know what it will be like in terms of Monday. Hopefully it settles down some more. I just have to keep doing what I have been told by the physios in terms of treatment and the manager and the medical team will assess it.”