Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that Jordan Henderson is beginning to show his leadership qualities after being named vice-captain earlier this season.

The 24-year-old has been widely tipped to take over as Liverpool captain when Steven Gerrard leaves Anfield to join MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer.

On Tuesday night, Henderson was rumoured to have been involved in a heated argument with Chelsea's Diego Costa in the Anfield tunnel following their 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final.

"You can see his leadership skills on and off the field," ESPN quotes Henderson as saying. "He'll protect his team and his colleagues. He's a wonderful ambassador for the club.

"I felt that by giving him the vice-captaincy, he could carry that mantle if Steven Gerrard wasn't playing. He does it with great pride and honour. As a footballer, he's still improving and developing."

In the early stages of Rodgers's reign at Anfield, the Northern Irishman considered selling Henderson in a player exchange deal involving then-Fulham man Clint Dempsey.