Virgil van Dijk could replace Jordan Henderson as Liverpool captain following the England midfielder’s controversial move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq.
Following the departure of Jordan Henderson, Virgil van Dijk feels it would be a “huge honour” to be elected Liverpool’s new permanent captain.
Virgil van Dijk wants to be Liverpool’s captain following Jordan Henderson’s departure to Saudi Arabia.
Henderson was Liverpool’s captain for eight seasons, taking over from Steven Gerrard in 2015 when he left Anfield to join MLS side LA Galaxy. Henderson, on the other hand, has completed a controversial move to Saudi club Al-Ettifaq, whom Gerrard currently manages, after accepting a £700,000-a-week contract.
As a result of James Milner’s move to Brighton, Liverpool have now lost both their captain and vice-captain. Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, on the other hand, thinks he has already determined who would replace Henderson, with Van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Alisson, and Trent Alexander-Arnold the only members of Liverpool’s ‘captains group’ left.
“I already know my decision, but I have to tell the players first before I speak publicly about it,” Klopp stated ahead of a preseason friendly against Leicester. “I didn’t anticipate being in that scenario a few weeks ago. Virgil van Dijk wants to be Liverpool’s captain following Jordan Henderson’s departure to Saudi Arabia.
“Everything happened pretty quickly. It’s a significant shift for us. This summer, several prominent members of the club left. However, things must change at some time. We must now put it to use. “The boys are aware of the situation.”
And Van Dijk is willing to step up and accept the additional responsibilities. “Obviously he is going to be a big miss for us, as a player but definitely as a leader, as a captain,” he said of Henderson’s departure.
“[He is] someone who has been so important for us in our success over the last years, in the success for the club in the last years so we’re going to miss him, we’re going to miss him a lot. But that’s part of football as well, players come and go, and others have to step up now and that’s the reality.
“I’ve captained the team several times in the last few 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 big honour. I see leaders and guys that have the potential to become team leaders.
“Obviously, these things don’t happen overnight, but we certainly have a lot of players who can and must take that responsibility, so I’m confident that it will happen.” But, certainly, the names who left us were very essential for us because of their experience and obviously their quality, but others must step up now.”
Liverpool have enjoyed a busy transfer window so far this summer, bringing in Alex Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai while also waving goodbye to Henderson, Milner, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain.
