This summer has brought about plenty of change at Liverpool, namely at ownership level and first team head coach, but also when it comes to players. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté who, between them, made over 1,000 appearances for the club, have all departed on frees.
Virgil van Dijk though is still there and, at 35 years old, will remain an every game starter. The Dutchman has been club captain since Jordan Henderson departed for Al-Ettifaq in 2023, and that will continue to be the case. Nevertheless, there has been much discussion between supporters as to who new manager Andoni Iraola will nominate to also be apart of the leadership group.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of the Reds trip to face Newcastle United, Andoni Iraola confirmed his three-man leadership group who will act as vice-captains alongside Virgil van Dijk
"Yes, we took a decision. The captains will be Virgil, Alisson, Joe Gomez and Dominik Szoboszlai. "Andoni Iraola
Joe Gomez had already worn the captain’s armband during the opening pre-season fixture under the new regime replaced after just ten minutes due to a muscle injury against Sunderland in Nashville. After that, Dominik Szoboszlaiwas captain for the other two matchesin America, until Virgil van Dijk returned for the Anfield friendlies against Monaco and Como. if only briefly signalling his standing as one of the squad's longest-serving figures.
Now, his role in the senior leadership group alongside Alisson Becker and Dominik Szoboszlai has been officially formalised to support skipper Virgil van Dijk.
Having stepped up through the ranks during his nine-year tenure on Merseyside, Gomez’s elevation reflects both his longevity and influence behind the scenes. While Alisson will act as a primary vice-captain in status, refereeing restrictions regarding goalkeepers mean Gomez is set to be the primary candidate to take the armband on the pitch whenever Van Dijk is absent.
It represents a natural evolution for the 29-year-old defender, who remains a vital, versatile figure in the squad as Liverpool prepare for another grueling domestic and European campaign.
Gomez is also the club's longest-serving player; he has been at Anfield so long that he was actually signed by Brendan Rodgers. During 11 seasons, the Englishman has started just six matches as captain. He donned the armband against Toulouse in the Europa League and Plymouth in the FA Cup, both defeats, as well as for EFL Cup ties against Norwich, Preston, Derby and West Ham.
Szoboszlai meantime, who has been Hungary's skipper for four years, is yet to do so from the start of a competitive match for Liverpool. Nevertheless, the fact Iraola has included in his leadership group is not only a reflection of his seniority, but also his importance to the new coach.
The other player Iraola mentioned is Alisson, but the 44 years old went on to note why fans are unlikely to see the Brazilian wearing the armband:
"I explained to Alisson that it’s not going to be possible that he wears the armband because with the new rule I think there is a big limitation if a keeper wears the armband... If something happens in the opposition box the referee has to explain to the captains what’s happening... but I wanted him to feel like we value him... unfortunately, they are putting the rules in a way that there is a lot of disadvantages to having a keeper as a captain."
Iraola added "I had one season with Neto in Bournemouth and then you have to start every game to say a different player that can act as a captain, and this is not viable". Alisson has actually started three matches as Liverpool captain before, these against FC Porto and A.C. Milan in the Champions League, as well as Norwich in the FA Cup, but Iraola has emphatically ruled out that happening again.
Nevertheless, he wanted to reiterate how important the 33 year old is to his plans. Earlier in the window, it appeared as though Alisson was going to be sold to Juventus, with Giorgi Mamardashvili having seemingly arrived as his heir apparent last summer. However, after the Georgian did not impress when called up, the Brazilian is preparing for a ninth campaign as number one.
So, with the goalkeeper not a viable on-field captain, and Joe Gomez injured, the armband will be shared by van Dijk and Szoboszlai. If all goes to plan, the Reds are not going to play too many matches without either of these two this season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google