How Liverpool squad’s rejigged leadership group could look next season

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Jurgen Klopp took Trent Alexander-Arnold aside during Liverpool’s open training session at Singapore’s National Stadium in late July 2023.

A brief chat was followed by a warm embrace. Klopp, about to enter what would prove to be his final season as Liverpool manager, had just offered his right-back the vice-captaincy, and it was immediately accepted.

There was a significant void to be filled in the club’s leadership group that off-season. Long-serving captain Jordan Henderson had moved to Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia after 12 years at Anfield and vice-captain James Milner, an eight-year stalwart, had joined Brighton & Hove Albion as a free agent following the expiration of his contract.

Virgil van Dijk was always the compelling candidate to be given the armband, given his seniority in the squad having joined the club in January 2018 and the fact he was previously third in the chain of command behind Henderson and Milner.

However, appointing the Dutch defender’s deputy was less clear-cut. Andy Robertson, Alisson and Alexander-Arnold were already members of the squad’s leadership group, with Mohamed Salah added to the mix after Henderson and Milner left.

Klopp opted for Alexander-Arnold, with one eye on succession planning. The Liverpool academy graduate, then 24, had spoken publicly about his desire to one day captain his boyhood club and had become an increasingly influential and vocal presence in the dressing room. He would describe being made vice-captain as “a stepping stone” to where he wanted to get to.

Those plans have been ripped up after Alexander-Arnold’s head was turned by Real Madrid’s pursuit. Having wrestled with “the hardest decision” of his life, Alexander-Arnold will leave Anfield on a free transfer at the end of this season and is widely expected to move to current Spanish, European and world champions Madrid.

Jurgen Klopp promoted Trent Alexander-Arnold to Liverpool’s leadership group (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Replacing his creativity is arguably the biggest challenge facing sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Arne Slot before what is expected to be a busy summer for the club in the transfer market, but they also need to decide who takes over as second in command to Van Dijk.

Considering the leading contenders for the role, it’s unlikely to be someone who would be the long-term successor to the 33-year-old Netherlands international, who last month signed a two-year contract to keep him at Anfield until 2027.

Robertson has captained Liverpool on seven occasions (the same as Alexander-Arnold) and embraces taking on extra responsibility, having been Scotland skipper since 2018. However, he is 31 and only has a year remaining on his contract. It’s uncertain where he will stand in the pecking order next season, with the club expected to sign a left-back this summer. Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez is highly regarded.

Slot has preferred Kostas Tsimikas as his left-back at times this season, with the Greece defender clocking up 17 starts in all competitions. Robertson came out on top in that battle, making 36 starts, but with competition for his place set to intensify, it might make more sense for the Scot to focus on his own performances.

Like Robertson, Alisson has a wealth of experience and commands the respect of his peers. The Brazil goalkeeper, 32, has worn the Liverpool armband three times and is a more reserved character, but when he speaks, others listen. His contribution to this season’s title triumph reaffirmed his lofty status in the world game, but he has missed 10 of the 35 league games due to fitness issues — the same number as he was absent for in 2023-24.

Alisson is respected by his team-mates (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

It remains to be seen how the dynamic will work between Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Georgia international who is joining from Spain’s Valencia this summer, with Liverpool’s long-time No 2 Caoimhin Kelleher keen to move on. Alisson, who snubbed lucrative offers from Saudi Arabian clubs last summer, is effectively under contract until 2027 as the club have a one-year option built into his deal.

Salah arguably has the strongest claims to be elevated to the vice-captaincy.

First, he can be expected to start the vast majority of games next season. Yes, he turns 33 next month, but his durability and consistency are remarkable. Liverpool recently gave him a two-year extension because they are convinced he will keep delivering at the highest level.

Salah, who has captained Egypt’s national team since 2021, has started every Premier League match this season, contributing 28 goals and 18 assists. Internally, he is regarded as the ideal role model at the club’s Kirkby training base because of the standards he sets and how he leads his life in terms of diet, gym regimen, work ethic and humility. He is a different personality from the more forthright Van Dijk, but they are two elite performers who would complement each other well as skipper and deputy.

Being asked to captain Liverpool for the first time from the start of a game in their fourth-round Carabao Cup win at Bournemouth last season was a source of great pride for Salah, who had been disappointed to be overlooked when the role was up for grabs previously. He’s already a leader within the squad and there is no danger of over-burdening him, because he would relish the responsibility.

In terms of potential additions to the leadership group following Alexander-Arnold’s departure, Alexis Mac Allister would be a popular choice. The Argentina midfielder has been Liverpool’s outstanding performer in the second half of this season, adding the Premier League title to a CV that already included World Cup and Copa America triumphs with his country.

Alexis Mac Allister has established himself as a key player at Liverpool (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

At 26, Mac Allister is coming into his prime years and his affinity for the club is clear. He’s a good communicator and being fluent in English and Spanish means he has close ties with the European and South American contingents in the dressing room.

But Slot isn’t short of options.

Dominik Szoboszlai is the captain of Hungary and Ibrahima Konate has worn the armband for France, although his future is not guaranteed as he approaches the final year of his contract.

Joe Gomez, the club’s longest-serving player, has been entrusted as skipper of much-changed Liverpool line-ups in six matches and academy graduate Curtis Jones has led the team out on three occasions. Wataru Endo (Japan) and Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland) have also done the job at international level.

Liverpool will need to evolve stylistically following Alexander-Arnold’s impending exit, given his special skill set — but when it comes to leaders, there’s no dearth of strong characters for Slot to turn to.

A rejig is required but promotions for Salah and Mac Allister would make perfect sense.

(Top photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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