FSG misjudged Henderson for a long while, too. They were unhappy with the way that he was bought from Sunderland nine years ago. He was scouted by Damien Comolli and FSG were appalled to discover that the director of football strategy had made the decision after watching the player just eight times. There was a belief in Boston that they had signed a dud and Henderson was part of the reason Comolli lost his job a year later.

Brendan Rodgers reinforced that view. He tried to swap the midfielder for Fulham’s Clint Dempsey, a move that fell apart only when Henderson refused to leave Anfield. Later, Rodgers came to appreciate that he had underrated the player. Even after Henderson had taken over the captain’s armband, a senior FSG executive said he would “sell him in a minute.”

Those who coach and play with Henderson have the utmost respect for the man. He is now held in higher esteem across the league for his efforts to bring players together and create a united approach to supporting the NHS.

Premier League stars were discussing how they could help the public health services even before Matt Hancock, the health secretary, used them as a political football to divert attention away from the government’s handling of the pandemic. The politician said that players should “do their bit.” It was outrageous to suggest that they are immune to the country’s problems and reluctant to help out those in need.

The Liverpool squad are a good example. They made up the shortfall for foodbanks that collect donations for the needy on matchdays. When the games were cancelled, they provided £10,000 (US$12,500) for every unplayed home fixture. One individual donated £25,000 to Alder Hey hospital on condition of anonymity. These sort of actions were being replicated across the Premier League. Many players have created their own charities and donate regularly to good causes without any fuss.

The clubs want players to take pay cuts but many in the game are suspicious of the employers’ motives. Furloughing non-playing staff while leaving players’ salaries untouched makes the players look greedy. The implication is that the high earners on the pitch should subsidise their colleagues who work in other departments of the club. The players are not keen to do this for a simple reason. They fear that any savings that clubs make will be used in the transfer market. They do not trust their bosses.

Because the Professional Footballers’ Association was remarkably slow to take action and protect the interests of its members, negotiations are taking place on a club-by-club basis but the reluctance to take pay cuts is not based on avarice. Players are worried that helping out their employers now will lead to them bankrolling the acquisition of their potential replacements.

Wage reductions will come. If the lockdown continues and football is unable to resume before July it is inevitable that all parties will come to an accommodation. Yet what Henderson and his fellow players are doing is a separate matter. They are donating their own money and it has nothing to do with the clubs. They want to be sure that when they put their hands in their pockets the cash is going to the right place. No one bullied them into giving away money and all donations are anonymous. Paycheques in the Premier League come in a surprisingly wide spectrum. The big earners are able to contribute more without making colleagues who earn half the salary look bad.

Footballers are predominantly from working-class backgrounds. Far from being detached and arrogant, many have experienced hardship and have developed clear social consciences. Many Premier League players are millionaires but they are frequently employed by billionaires. Hancock was wrong to single players out, but knee-jerk populism has been a characteristic of British politics for the past half decade. The health secretary was feeding on trite preconceptions.

Henderson defies stereotypes. He is thoughtful, hard-working and cares about people around him. Like most players. At a time when fear and confusion reign, it is sometimes hard to find the correct path. Leaders instinctively know the right thing to do. No one should doubt that Henderson is one of the great Liverpool captains.