Mark Lawrenson believes that Jordan Henderson showed at the weekend why he will turn out to be a good purchase for Liverpool, with the midfielder starring in the absence of Luis Suarez.

Henderson scored twice against Newcastle at the weekend, making a superb contribution in his side's 6-0 thrashing over the Toon and setting them up for a positive finish to the season.

Suarez's 10 game ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic will leave the striker out of action until well into next season, and his future with Liverpool has also been brought into question. But after the performances of Henderson and co at the weekend, Lawrenson argued that the side are showing a lot of positives in the lead up to the summer.

Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson celebrates with fans during his brilliant performance against Newcastle.

"To score six goals without Suarez was some going, and some players were performing with a freedom they haven't shown before, not least Jordan Henderson," he told the Liverpool Daily Post.

"In terms of energy and fitness, Henderson is tailor-made for an attacking midfield role. For much of his Anfield career, I've always thought he looks like someone who can't believe he is in the Liverpool team.

"Now, though, there is a confidence to his game that he hasn't had. I hope he is going to make it at Liverpool. He is such a game boy, he will run all day.

"It may just be the fact that he is maturing.

"Even against Chelsea the other week, while things weren't quite happening for him and he was eventually substituted, at least he was trying stuff that maybe he wouldn't three or four months ago.

"Had they come off for him, we'd be talking about what a great game Henderson had. Instead, he had a fine game at Newcastle."

The win over Newcastle leaves Liverpool in seventh position, but the side are closing in on sixth-placed Merseyside rivals Everton who they face this weekend.

With just two losses in their past 10 games, the Reds are looking set to end their first campaign with Brendan Rodgers on a high, though he will have a lot of work to do in the summer if he hopes to so break into the top four next season.