Virgil van Dijk has been named the new Liverpool captain with Trent Alexander-Arnold appointed vice captain as Jurgen Klopp appointed his successor to Jordan Henderson.
The Netherlands defender was expected to fill the void left by Henderson who conceded the armband by choosing to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, after being lured to the Middle East and putting pen-to-paper on a staggering £700,000-per-week deal.
Van Dijk joined the Reds from Southampton in 2018 and has become one of the club’s top performers during a purple patch of success that saw the club win a first Premier League title and sixth Champions League trophy.
He will take over the captaincy and becomes the first Reds defender to lead the team since Sami Hyypia vacated the armband in 2003.
After being named captain, Van Dijk told Liverpoolfc.com in Singapore: ‘[It’s] a really proud day for me, for my wife, for my kids, my family. It’s been a special feeling and I can’t really describe it at this point.
‘But it’s something that I’m really, really proud of. ‘Obviously I’m captain of Holland, that was already such a huge honour, a proud moment as well. But also to be the captain of Liverpool Football Club is something that I can’t describe at this point.
‘It’s just something that makes me very proud and I will do everything in my power and what I can do to make everyone proud and happy with me and the football club.’
Van Dijk has captained the Netherlands since being named national team skipper ahead of the 2022 World Cup and has evidently impressed enough for Klopp to appoint him as Liverpool’s newest chief.
The 32-year-old has been integral to the club’s success in recent years but has struggled with significant injuries at various times in last couple of seasons.
He missed 41 days with a hamstring injury last season and previously missed almost the entirety of the 2020/21 season after undergoing surgery on a cruciate ligament injury.
Should he be unavailable for matches next season then captain duties will fall to Alexander-Arnold who will provide support as vice-captain.
The England international was born in the city and has similarly been vital to Liverpool’s trophy-chasing efforts under the guidance of Klopp.
A disappointing campaign last season saw his position in Liverpool’s set-up questioned as the Reds struggled to find consistency and eventually finished outside the Champions League places.
Alexander-Arnold bounced back with a late flurry of strong performances in midfield and is again expected to be a regular in Klopp’s starting team next season.
Content by: RYAN WALKER
