Liverpool has appointed and ‘curveball’ candidate for next captain after Jordan Henderson

Liverpool has appointed and ‘curveball’ candidate for next captain after Jordan Henderson

This is a summer of change for Liverpool in several different ways.

Jurgen Klopp has targeted a midfield rebuild, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai checking in for a combined £95m. More deals could still be on the way.

Yet the dynamics of the dressing room are also shifting, with experienced vice-captain James Milner leaving as a free agent to join Brighton & Hove Albion.

While Jordan Henderson, who took over as the club’s captain from Steven Gerrar d eight years ago this week, is facing a decision over his Anfield future as transfer interest from Saudi Arabia grows.

READ MORE: Jordan Henderson transfer latest as Saudi interest grows in Liverpool captain

READ MORE: Jordan Henderson response says everything as Saudi Arabia comes calling for Liverpool captain

And when Henderson eventually passes on the armband, who could be the player to take it? ECHO writers have their say…

‘Trent is the man but curveball option has just arrived’

Theo Squires: Liverpool will have a new vice-captain this season, with Virgil van Dijk likely to be promoted to succeed James Milner.

With Jordan Henderson expected to adopt more of a squad role, the Dutchman could well find himself leading out the Reds more times than not in the months ahead.

Having seen Marco Reus, now aged 34, relinquish the Borussia Dortmund armband earlier this week, a section of fans on social media had been calling for Henderson to do the same.

Realistically, though, that isn’t going to happen. Nor should it. He might 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 beyond the halfway points in their Anfield careers. Sooner or later, a new long-term skipper will emerge.

Jurgen Klopp currently has a five-man leadership group, with Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Alisson Becker next in line to take captaincy duties behind Henderson and Van Dijk. If in need of a new member, expect Mohamed Salah to be at the front of the queue.

And from that quartet, Alexander-Arnold is perhaps the obvious candidate to be the next Liverpool captain, given he will be entering his peak years while his elder team-mates start to decline.

The right-back has previously admitted he has his eyes on taking ownership of 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 the club’s history to have captained the Reds, will emerge as a future vice-captain?

A recent new signing could emerge as a curveball option though. Dominik Szoboszlai. Still only 22, the playmaker is already captain of the Hungary national side. If he lives up to his £60m price-tag, he could easily become a leader for the club in years to come.

Besides, something just feels right about a Liverpool captain wearing the number eight shirt, doesn’t it?

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‘Liverpool’s future captain has already been named’

Sean Bradbury: “Even at the age of 15, he was this natural technical talent. He had all the characteristics I loved: a mentality to win, passionate to improve – but his emotions sometimes took control instead of him taking control over the emotions.

“He trained with so much power and competition. He grew step-by-step into the wonderful guy he is now, surrounded by a lovely family, he created this superb personality.

“I still see the same fire in his eyes in each training session, 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 writing about Trent Alexander-Arnold in his recent book.

When the club’s assistant manager has already labelled one current player a ‘future captain’, it is hard to disagree.

Especially when the Scouse star has already won the lot, is still just 24 years old and now looks set to step forward into midfield.

Alexander-Arnold will have learned plenty from the likes of Jordan Henderson and James Milner about how to lead, motivate, speak and act in the dressing room.

He is also a positive role model and fine ambassador for the city away from football too.

When it is finally time for Henderson to pass on the armband, Liverpool’s no.66 is an obvious candidate who will be ready to receive it.

‘It’s difficult to look at anyone else other than Trent Alexander-Arnold’

Keifer MacDonald: When talking about who could become the next great Liverpool captain once the curtain is drawn on Jordan Henderson’s time at Anfield, truth be told it’s difficult to look at anyone else other than Trent Alexander-Arnold.

As mentioned by both Theo and Sean, Alexander-Arnold has had all the hallmarks of a future Reds captain since he made his debut in the autumn of 2016, and even before that if you listen to the tales of Pep Lijnders.

The 24-year-old was introduced into the Reds’ five-man leadership group after its reconstruction in the summer of 2021 and the departure of vice-captain James Milner earlier this summer will also see the defender have his status elevated as he moves to within touching distance of the armband.

Of course, Jurgen Klopp is blessed with a string of international captains in his ranks, with Andy Robertson one of those tasked with such duties when he heads north of the border. While Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah also lead their nations.

Back on Merseyside, meanwhile, Alisson Becker, albeit not on a full-time basis, has previous experience sporting the armband in the absence of Henderson, Van Dijk and previously Milner.

Both Robertson and Alisson are two players who would indeed make great captains, but with Scotsman heading towards the twilight stages of his time at Anfield, it seems unlikely that he would be given the nod ahead of Alexander-Arnold.

Meanwhile, despite turning 31 later this year, Alisson could be another outside option for Klopp to consider in the years ahead. Although it would take a monumental effort to clutch the holy grail away from the captain-in-waiting in Liverpool’s No.66.

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Mo Salah is the new Lactate Test king at Liverpool
Josh Lawless

Published 8:42, 12 July 2023 BST
| Last updated 9:23, 12 July 2023 BST

Mo Salah is the new Lactate Test king at Liverpool
Liverpool’s brutal pre-season lactase test saw two new winners following on from the departure of fitness freak James Milner.

Every year since he joined the club in 2015, the former England international won the test, even doing so at the ripe old age of 36 last year.

The aerobic test measures the lactic acid level of players at increasing distances. Players with levels too high are eliminated, as at the end of each checkpoint, a sample of blood is taken from each player’s ear to evaluate their lactic acid level.

LOADING…

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Andy Robertson has admitted to throwing up when he took part in the challenge on his very first day at Liverpool.

Former Liverpool player Kevin Stewart was always named as the one who could give Milner a run for his money in the test but now that the 37-year-old is a Brighton player, it was time for others to step up to the mark.

And Mo Salah did just that. Footage on Liverpool’s ‘Inside Training’ video showed the Egyptian King absolutely smashing the test as part of a group which had Jordan Henderson and Virgil van Dijk in it.

Salah’s fitness levels are incredible and it’s no surprise to see him emerge victorious after seeing his outrageous 7km time on a treadmill.

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When he completed the test, Jurgen Klopp announced Salah’s victory by saying, “And the James Milner award goes to…”

But a second group then took part and it was new signing Dominik Szoboszlai who outlasted new teammates like Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cody Gakpo.

He showed that he has the required energy levels to go with the technical attributes required to play under Klopp and was congratulated by his colleagues.

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Asked about his first day of pre-season, the Hungarian said it was “really hard but really good”.

What are the benefits of the test, we hear you ask? “According to EKF Diagnostics, who supply the equipment, it’s said that “Testing and improving lactate threshold within a training program can be used to make stronger and faster athletes.”

Featured Image Credit: Liverpool FC

Topics: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Premier League, James Milner

Josh Lawless
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🚨EPL TRANSFER NEWS LIVE – Kylian Mbappé guarantee made after $217m, Liverpool ‘bid’ Signed 650, 000 per week contract ✍️✅✅
on July 12, 2023

Liverpool rivals round-up: There’s yet more speculation on Kylian Mbappé’s future, while West Ham have reportedly been offered a Liverpool flop this summer.

Kylian Mbappé could leave PSG this

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Liverpool and other clubs are making their returns to training now, but there is still plenty of transfer activity to get through this summer.

The Reds have started their pre-season preparations, with the first group of players returning to the AXA Training Centre on Saturday before the rest of the group joins them from Tuesday.

Those set to be back in training this week include new signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, and Jürgen Klopp will no doubt hope that at least one more new arrival will be joining them soon.

The Liverpool boss still has some business to attend to this summer, but he’ll have to work his way around a market that is heating up across Europe.

Kylian Mbappé’s future will no doubt dominate headlines throughout the summer as his time at Paris Saint-Germain looks as though it could be coming to an end. And of course, whenever Mbappé is mentioned, Liverpool isn’t too far behind.

Here, Liverpool.com takes a scan around the other big sides in the Premier League and around Europe to take a look at the news going on at the other clubs.

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