Klopp explains decision to give Van Dijk the captain's armband
Jurgen Klopp insists Virgil van Dijk has ‘everything you wish for’ in a captain as the Liverpool boss reveals why he chose the defender over vice Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah, Alisson and Andy Robertson
- Virgil van Dijk has replaced Jordan Henderson as Liverpool’s new club captain
- Jurgen Klopp chose Van Dijk with Trent Alexander-Arnold to be his deputy
- Mo Salah, Andy Robertson and Alisson complete Liverpool’s leadership group
Jurgen Klopp believes Virgil van Dijk has ‘everything’ to be Liverpool captain after revealing why he opted to give the Dutchman the armband for the upcoming season.
The role of captain was open at Liverpool following Jordan Henderson’s £12m move to join Steven Gerrard at Saudi side Al-Ettifaq.
Klopp had a number of options to pick from, including Mo Salah, Andy Robertson and Alisson – all players who are part of the club’s new senior leadership group.
But on Monday evening it was confirmed that Klopp had decided to give Van Dijk the captain’s armband, with childhood Liverpool fan Trent Alexander-Arnold taking up the role as his deputy.
Klopp told Liverpool’s official website: ‘It was my decision. We had to make the decision and I had to think about it, but with Virg it’s really now not difficult because I think he’s an absolutely natural follower of a big personality with Hendo, and we had to replace James Milner as well.’
Virgil van Dijk has been named as Liverpool’s new captain, replacing Jordan Henderson
Trent Alexander-Arnold (right) has been chosen as Van Dijk’s deputy over the likes of Mo Salah (left), Andy Robertson and Alisson
Jurgen Klopp believes Van Dijk has everything a team would want to be a captain of the club
He added: ‘Virg has everything to wish for to be captain of a football club. Number one he’s definitely the best looking captain in the Premier League which is important for team pictures. But, of course, personality-wise everything is there.
‘He wants to be a leader, he is a leader. He has to step up like all of us have to step because were used to things how they always were and now we have to create something new – a new structure, a new culture and that’s really exciting. He will play a massive role in that – he has to.’
Klopp then explained why he gave the deputy role to Alexander-Arnold after he was seen breaking the news to his new vice-captain in heart-warming footage released by the club.
He said: ‘I just think Trent is ready. He is our Scouser, he is playing for me pretty much since the beginning. He improved, he developed as a player and as a person massively.
‘I wanted him to be in that role, we spoke about it and he was more than happy to take it because, again, it’s important that the boys understand the work behind the honour.
‘I think it’s really good decision. Not all my decisions I am always happy with afterwards but with this one I know I will be. I will stay happy because he’s not only representing that slightly younger generation, he’s representing everything about this club.’
Klopp added: ‘And I’m happy to watch and be beside him when he makes the next steps in his development. I think we will hopefully have a lot of joy with this boy and with the new role he should feel the trust we have in him and let’s see where that leads to.’
Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold are joined by Salah, Robertson and Alisson as part of the new leadership group.
Klopp broke the news to Alexander-Arnold during a training session on their tour of Singapore
Klopp added that Scotland captain Andy Robertson will have a ‘super-important position’ within the club’s leadership group
Egypt captain Mo Salah (left) and Brazil keeper Alisson (right) complete the leadership group
Klopp said that Robertson is the ‘one you cannot miss out in a leadership group’ and that he and Liverpool’s coaching staff ‘see him in a super-important position’ within the team.
Klopp added that for all the duties a Liverpool captain has to do, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson better suit Alisson and Salah.
He said: ‘I had goalkeepers as captains in the past – on the pitch, it’s not great; off the pitch, super-important. So that’s because on the pitch it’s just too far away for a lot of things and these kind of things.
‘But Ali is a natural leader, so we need him in that group as well. And the same is for Mo, captain of Egypt, one of the best players to ever play for this club.
‘But strikers are different, strikers have to be different. So we need him as a role model, we need Mo as the one who leads the line, if you want, who is the first to press, who’s the first to all these things on the pitch.’
Klopp added: ‘But I think for all the duties a Liverpool captain has to do, I think the first three suit better to them, and then the other two can be what they are and always were and can be themselves, help the team in the best possible way and push the team in the best possible way but stay themselves because that’s the player we signed, that’s the player we love and that’s the player we need.’
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