Who Will Be Liverpool’s Next Captain?
Liverpool is entering a new phase of the Klopp era and with new players joining the squad and old ones leaving, the club is beginning to have a different feel to it.
Jordan Henderson is a Liverpool legend and has been the captain of one of the most successful eras in Liverpool’s history. Despite the criticism he receives from fans online, he is and has been, a brilliant, even underrated, footballer and an exceptional leader of men.
While Henderson is still the skipper, and hopefully will be doing more Hendo shuffles soon, the midfielder is now 33-years-old and will likely see his role diminish in the next couple of seasons. Eventually, there will come a time when Jordan Henderson no longer plays for Liverpool Football Club. That begs the question of who will take the place of one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever captains. Here are a few thoughts on some potential candidates.
Virgil van Dijk
Van Dijk has been in the leadership contingent for a couple of seasons now. James Milner has served as vice-captain with Virgil next in line. James Milner, of course, moved to Brighton this summer, so it would make sense for Virgil to step into his place. Jordan Henderson will probably not be in the starting lineup as often as he has been in the past, so Virgil will be asked to wear the armband pretty consistently. He is a leader in the dressing room and captains his national team. If Henderson were to leave in the next couple of years, no one would bat an eye at Van Dijk becoming captain. However, Virgil is no spring chicken either so by the time Henderson leaves Virgil will be well into his thirties. Yet, he could be the perfect man to captain Liverpool for a few seasons.
Andrew Robertson
Robbo is also a captain of his national team and already a Liverpool legend. He seems to have become more of a vocal leader on the pitch as well. Robertson is now a Liverpool veteran and it would be quite a surprise if he were to leave the club any time soon. Robertson’s playing style and attitude embody what has made Liverpool so successful under Jurgen Klopp. At 29-years-old he is probably at the peak of his powers, but arguably puts in the most consistent quality performances of anyone at the club. Robertson will emerge as even more of a leader with new, younger players joining the squad and he will be relied upon as a voice in the dressing room. Club captain might be a role that suits him, but perhaps he doesn’t need the armband to be a leader.
Mohamed Salah
There’s not much more that can be said about Mo Salah. Mo is a true Liverpool icon. The Egyptian King will go down as one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players and there are not many ahead of him. This will be Salah’s 7th season at Liverpool and he committed his long-term future at the club last summer. He’s the last survivor of the famous front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and himself. He has shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon. It would make sense for him to be added to the leadership group with the departure of James Milner which would formalize his leadership at the club. He’s already embraced younger players like Harvey Elliot and there is no doubt he is admired by academy products and new players alike. I don’t think Mo needs the captaincy to assert his place at Liverpool, but if he were to become captain it would make him that much more of a club legend.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent may be the obvious successor to Jordan Henderson. At 24-years-old he is already a world class player and has won the lot at Liverpool. With his new hybrid role on the pitch, he may become even more influential on match day. Trent made his first team debut back in 2016 and is already a seasoned Liverpool veteran at such a young age. Footballing ability aside, Trent lives and breathes Liverpool Football Club. He’s been playing for Liverpool since he was 6. He is a scouser. He represents the club, players and the fans. There is no reason to believe that Trent will leave the club any time soon or any time during his career at all for that matter. His passing prowess and technique are often compared to Steven Gerrard. Perhaps they will also share the honor of captaining their boyhood club. As Trent said himself to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Guillem Balague in 2019, “Captaining Liverpool is something I have always dreamed of, and it is something that motivates me.”