Jurgen Klopp told he's made mistake by appointing Van Dijk as Liverpool captain

02 August 2023 , 13:05

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Virgil van Dijk has been named as Liverpool's new captain (Image: Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp has made a mistake by naming Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool's new captain, says former defender Jose Enrique.

Van Dijk has been handed the armband following Jordan Henderson's controversial move to Saudi Arabia. And despite being considered the obvious choice, Enrique thinks the giant Dutchman should have been overlooked in favour of Andy Robertson - a "good leader" who "always gives everything"

“I think it was unlikely that the next Liverpool captain would have been anyone other than Virgil van Dijk but if I was Jurgen Klopp I would have given it to either Andy Robertson or Alisson,” Enrique told Grosvenor Sport. “He might not have wanted to give it to Alisson because he is the goalkeeper and you want it to be someone who is actually playing out on the pitch but I think he would deserve it.

“I don’t think Liverpool really have another Jordan Henderson, but I like Robertson a lot. Robertson is a good leader and he always gives everything. Last year put me in a lot of doubt about Van Dijk and I know he had some injuries but last year I didn’t see the Van Dijk that I expected.

"That’s why I would have put Robertson ahead of him, but Klopp has gone with Van Dijk as the captain.”

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Enrique also believes that Darwin Nunez, who struggled at times in his first season at Anfield after arriving from Benfica in an £85m deal, does not feature in Klopp’s strongest frontline.

The Uruguayan has shown some flashes of quality in pre-season but Enrique is forecasting another “tough” season for the man who has inherited Roberto Firmino's No.9 shirt. Indeed, the Spaniard believes Mohamed Salah's running mates in the Reds' first-choice attack should be Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.

“I know he has had an amazing pre-season, and some Liverpool fans will call me crazy,” Enrique added. "[But] for me they are the best three. If Luis Diaz is fit, he has to play, there’s nothing more that needs to be said for Salah, and Jota has scored so many goals.

“It’s true that Jota has had some drops in form with some injuries as well, but if he can stay fit and play how we all know he can then I think he is the starting number nine.

"He can score with both feet, he can score headers, he can drop in, maybe not as well as Roberto Firmino used to in that false nine position, but he is strong and he can keep the ball so he is the most complete number nine that Liverpool have.

“If you asked me the level of all of the players that could play in the front three for Liverpool, I think these three are the best.”

Alan Smith