Virgil van Dijk wants Liverpool captaincy after Jordan Henderson's Saudi exit

30 July 2023 , 00:03

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Virgil van Dijk wants Liverpool captaincy after Jordan Henderson's Saudi exit

Virgil van Dijk says it would be a "huge honour" to be named Liverpool's new permanent captain following the departure of Jordan Henderson.

Henderson spent eight seasons as Liverpool's skipper, taking over the role from Steven Gerrard in 2015 when he departed Anfield to join MLS side LA Galaxy. However, Henderson has now completed a controversial move to Saudi side Al-Ettifaq, who Gerrard now manages, having accepted a £700,000-a-week contract.

That means Liverpool have now lost their captain and vice-captain, following James Milner's switch to Brighton. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, though, says he has already decided who will replace Henderson with Van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold the remaining members of Liverpool's 'captains group'.

"I already know my decision but I have to tell the players first before I speak in public about it," Klopp said before a pre-season friendly against Leicester. "I didn't expect to have that situation a few weeks ago.

"It all happened pretty quickly. It's a big change for us. Big characters left the club this summer. But things have to change at some point. Now we have to use it. The boys understand this situation."

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And Van Dijk is willing to step up and take on the added responsibility. "Obviously he is going to be a big miss for us, as a player but definitely as a leader, as a captain," he said when asked about Henderson's exit.

"[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.

Virgil van Dijk could replace Jordan Henderson as Liverpool captain (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

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"I've been captaining the side multiple times already over the last couple of years and it's always a proud moment to do that. We will see what the future brings but it would be a huge honour to captain the side. I see leaders definitely, and definitely players who can become that leader of the team.

"Obviously it's not overnight that these things happen but definitely we have a lot of players who can take that responsibility and have to take that responsibility, so I'm confident that that will happen. But obviously those names who left us were very important for us with their experience and obviously the quality they have as well, but others have to 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.

Matthew Cooper