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Henderson: champagne sprayed in Liverpool's PL trophy lift was non-alcoholic

  /  autty

Jordan Henderson has divulged how Liverpool sprayed non-alcoholic champagne during their Premier League title celebrations to cater for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

The Liverpool captain got his hands on the trophy back in July, as Jurgen Klopp's side celebrated a momentous season, winning the top-flight title for the first time in 30 years.

But, speaking to The Times ahead of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday for which he is nominated, Henderson revealed that the champagne sprayed on the day was non-alcoholic, as Salah and Mane are Muslims and praised the pair's journey to the top.

'The champagne was non-alcoholic with the trophy lift because of Mo and Sadio,' Henderson said.

'Within the dressing rooms there's none of that [intolerance] so why isn't that the case in the outside world?'

In September, Essex captain Tom Westley apologised after alcohol was poured over a Muslim player as the team celebrated their Bob Willis Trophy win.

Batsman Feroze Khushi, who was 12th man during the final against Somerset, was photographed recoiling as beer was poured over him on the balcony at Lord's.

Meanwhile Henderson, who started his career at Sunderland before moving to Anfield in 2011, spoke glowingly about the diversity in the Reds dressing room too.

'I look at Sadio and Mo and where they have come from [rural Senegal and Egypt respectively] and what they have achieved is incredible.

'When we're in the pool and Sadio's swimming, he's saying he learnt because he lived in a village right next to the water [the Casamance river in Sédhiou] so he used to like going in the water.

'I look at my journey and I've been very lucky, a working-class family, but I've never experienced some of the stuff they've been through in their lives.'

Henderson, 30, also said that Jack Grealish is his standout Premier League player in 2020, over any of his team-mates.

The midfielder plays alongside the Aston Villa captain at international level with England.