Virgil van Dijk has said that being named Liverpool’s next captain would be a big honour.
The Reds are in need of a new captain and vice-captain after Jordan Henderson completed a £12 million move to Al-Ettifaq earlier this week, while James Milner left for Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this summer. After Jordan Henderson’s departure, Virgil van Dijk admits to being Liverpool captain.
Manager Jurgen Klopp acknowledged at a pre-match press conference before of Liverpool’s pre-season friendly against Leicester City that he had already chosen his new captain but had yet to inform his squad. He did, however, clarify that Van Dijk would continue to captain the team against the Foxes, having previously worn the armband in friendlies against Karlsruher and Greuther Furth earlier this month.
The Dutchman has spent the majority of his Anfield career as the Reds’ third-choice captain, initially donning the armband for a Champions League triumph over Red Star Belgrade in October 2018 and going on to lead Klopp’s side on 43 occasions.
As a result, he is expected to be chosen Henderson’s replacement, having previously been in position to replace Milner as vice-captain before the departed captain’s contentious move to Saudi Arabia. After Jordan Henderson’s departure, Virgil van Dijk admits to being Liverpool captain.
And Van Dijk has pushed his teammates to stand up to compensate for the experienced pair’s departures, while also explaining what it would mean to him if Klopp appointed him club captain.
“Well, on the captaincy, that’s not been announced yet, so I can’t say too much about it,” the Dutchman, who is already the captain of the Netherlands, told reporters on Saturday. “But, obviously, I’ve already captained the team several times in the last couple of years, and it’s always a proud moment to do so.”
“We’ll see what the future holds, but captaining the team would be a huge honour.”
“I see leaders (in our squad) and players who have the potential to become team leaders.” Obviously, these things do not happen quickly, but we have a lot of players that can and must accept that responsibility, so I’m certain that it will happen.
“But obviously those names who left us (Henderson and Milner) were very important for us with their experience and obviously the quality they have as well, but others have to step up now.”
Meanwhile, Van Dijk paid respect to Henderson, the departed captain.
“Obviously, he’ll be a big loss for us, as a player but also as a leader, as a captain,” he said. “[He is] someone who has been so important for us in our success over the last years, in the club’s success over the last years, so we’re going to miss him a lot.”
“But that’s part of football; players come and go, and others must step up now, and that’s the reality.” But he will be missed, I will miss him, and we wish him the best.”
