Liverpool’s management team is changing with the departure of James Milner – who will be next in line when he finally passes the captaincy?
This is a summer of change for Liverpool in many ways.
Jurgen Klopp has focused on rebuilding midfield, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai taking in £95m combined. More offers may be on the way.
But the dressing room dynamic is also changing, with veteran vice-captain James Milner leaving to freelance to join Brighton & Hove Albion.
On this day in 2015, Jordan Henderson was named club captain, replacing Steven Gerrard. The former Sunderland player guided the Reds to great success and numerous trophies.
But if he ends up passing on the armband, who could be the player who will receive it? The authors of ECHO have their say…
“Trent is the man, but the curved option has just arrived”
Theo Squires: Liverpool will have a new vice-captain this season, with Virgil van Dijk likely to be promoted to replace James Milner. With Jordan Henderson expected to play more of a team role, the Dutchman could lead the Reds more often than not in the coming months.
After seeing Marco Reus, now 34, handed over the Borussia Dortmund bracelet earlier this week, some fans on social media have been urging Henderson to do the same.
Realistically, however, that won’t happen. Should not. He may have his critics but the former Sunderland man remains one of Liverpool’s greatest ever captains.
But with the Dutchman now 32 and the England international 33, it’s clear they are already halfway through their careers at Anfield. Sooner or later a new long-term skipper will show up.
Jurgen Klopp currently has a five-man management team, with Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker next in line to take over the captaincy duties behind Henderson and Van Dijk. If you need a new member, expect Mohamed Salah to be at the forefront.
And of that quartet, Alexander-Arnold is undoubtedly the obvious candidate to become Liverpool’s next captain as he enters his peak years as his older teammates begin to decline.
The right-back has previously admitted that he has his eye on acquiring the armband in a post-Henderson future, while, in a throwback to the Steven Gerrard/Jamie Carragher era, perhaps fellow Scouser Curtis Jones, who is actually the youngest player in club history to captain the Reds, will he emerge as a future vice-captain?
However, a recent re-signing may look like a curved option.
Dominik Szoboszlai. At just 22, the playmaker is already captain of the Hungarian national team. If he lives up to his £60m price tag, he could easily become a club leader in years to come.
Besides, there’s something right about a Liverpool captain wearing the number eight shirt, isn’t there?
“Liverpool’s future captain is already known”
Sean Bradbury: “Even at 15 he was a natural technical talent. He had all the characteristics I loved – a mindset to win, a passion to improve, but sometimes his emotions took control instead of him taking control of his emotions.
“He trained with so much strength and competition. Step by step he grew up to be the good guy he is today, surrounded by a lovely family, he created this great personality.
“I still see the same fire in his eyes at every workout, but I don’t see this young guy anymore; I see a leader, I see someone who controls his emotions, a future captain. A leader by example.”
Not my words, but those of Pep Lijnders who writes about Trent Alexander-Arnold in his recent book.
When the club’s assistant manager has already labeled a current player as a ‘future captain’, it’s hard to disagree.
Especially when Scouse’s star has already hit the lottery, he’s only 24 and now looks ready to step into midfield.
Alexander-Arnold will have learned a lot from Jordan Henderson and James Milner about how to lead, motivate, speak and act in the locker room. Also far from football, he is a positive role model and a good ambassador for the city.
When the time finally comes for Henderson to pass the armband, the Liverpool No.66 is an obvious candidate who will be ready to receive it.
“It’s hard to look at anyone other than Trent Alexander-Arnold”
Keifer MacDonald: When talking about who could become Liverpool’s next great captain when Jordan Henderson’s time at Anfield comes to an end, it’s honestly hard to put eyes on anyone other than Trent Alexander-Arnold.
As Theo and Sean have pointed out, Alexander-Arnold has shown all the hallmarks of a future Reds captain since his debut in autumn 2016, and even before if you listen to Pep Lijnders’ stories.
The 24-year-old was added to the Reds’ five-man leadership group following the summer 2021 revamp and the departure of vice-captain James Milner earlier this summer will also mean the defender’s status is elevated with his move within easy reach of the cuff.
Naturally, Jurgen Klopp is blessed with a number of international captains in his ranks, with Andy Robertson among those charged with such duties as he heads north of the border. While Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah also lead their nation.
Back at Merseyside, Alisson Becker meanwhile, although not full-time, has previous armband experience in the absence of Henderson, Van Dijk and previously Milner.
Both Robertson and Alisson are two players who would make great captains indeed, but with Scotsman heading into the twilight phase of his time at Anfield, it seems unlikely he’ll take the credit for Alexander-Arnold.
Meanwhile, despite turning 31 by the end of the year, Alisson could be another outside option for Klopp to consider in the years to come. Even if it would take a huge effort to snatch the holy grail from Liverpool’s number 66 captain.
