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Jordan Henderson celebrates breaking the deadlock for Liverpool against Udinese (PA Photos)

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has vowed to improve his scoring record after grabbing the goal that extended the club's Europa League campaign.

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Henderson, 22, struck for only the third time in 65 appearances as Brendan Rodgers' side beat Udinese 1-0 in Italy on Thursday night. The result meant that Liverpool finished top of Group A, and qualified for February's last-32 stage.

The England Under-21 captain has largely been restricted to playing in cup competitions since Rodgers replaced Kenny Dalglish as manager during the summer.

However, Henderson, signed from Sunderland for £16 million in 2011, is hoping there will be better things to come.

"I have missed a few good chances in games so it was nice to put one away, and I hope I can keep scoring from now on," he said. "I have always tried to improve my goalscoring. "Even when I've been getting good chances of late I've not put them away, so I started to think that I needed to score. I've managed to do that, so I'm happy. You have to keep working hard, keep doing the things you have been doing and it will pay off in the end."

Henderson reckons Liverpool will be a stronger side when the Europa League resumes in February, although his immediate focus is Sunday's Premier League trip to West Ham.

"I think we are going from strength to strength every week and we are improving," he said. "It is important for Liverpool to be involved in the knockout stages of European competition.

"When February comes, we will have improved a hell of a lot and we can kick on from there but our main focus now is Sunday against West Ham. We hope the win will give everyone confidence going into that game."

Liverpool were due to arrive home from Udine on Friday afternoon after a problem with their plane forced them to make an unscheduled overnight stop in Italy on Thursday.