13 November 2023 , 14:26
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Jordan Henderson's experience in the Saudi Pro League hit a chastening new low on Saturday as his Al-Ettifaq side played in front of just 610 people.
The former Liverpool captain, 33, was lured to the Middle East in the summer in a controversial move that has seen the veteran heavily criticised by both fans and pundits alike.
The repercussions of Henderson's move have been felt on the international stage after he was booed by England fans last month, but things haven't been going swimmingly at his new club, either.
Henderson played in front of 50,000 plus people on a regular basis at Anfield last year and has had to adapt to much smaller crowds since moving to Saudi Arabia - but he experienced a season-low crowd at the weekend as Steven Gerrard's side were held to a 0-0 draw away at Al-Fayha.
An audience of just 610 people may represent an embarrassing new low for Henderson, but he is far from the only high-profile player currently experiencing hardships overseas.
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Henderson's former Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino also endured a weekend to forget after he was benched by Al-Ahli for the second successive game - even though he was installed as their club captain in the summer.
The former Anfield favourite plundered a hat-trick on his debut to become an instant hero with the Al-Ahli fanbase but has failed to score in the 13 matches he's played since. Former AC Milan and Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie wore the captain's armband in Firmino's absence.
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Roberto Firmino was dropped for the second successive game by Al-Ahli (Getty Images)Global stars from outside the Premier League such as Neymar and Karim Benzema also decided to move to the Middle East in the summer, however, a recent report from The Sun claimed that a number of those new faces are 'hating every minute' of life in the Saudi Pro League.
Henderson signed a three-year deal with Al-Ettifaq in the summer and is reportedly earning around £700,000-a-week to play for the team now coached by Gerrard.
Despite making a bright start to the season, Al-Ettifaq have won just one of their last seven matches and are currently seventh in the league standings. Firmino and Al-Ahli are faring slightly better; they are currently third in the league which is topped by Al-Hilal.