Credit: Reuters/Carl Reci
If Jurgen Klopp is a fan of the multiple-time Emmy-nominated legacy masterpiece, he may be channeling his inner Logan Roy now.
Likely with Jordan Henderson joining the brilliant commuter belt between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Klopp must decide who should step into the game and become Liverpool's permanent captain.
The smart money is on Virgil van Dijk, who managed the team in Henderson's absence during the first midweek pre-season game. Being vice-captain after the departure of James Milner, the Dutchman may consider it his right, although he will be less Machiavellian than Kendall, Shiv and Roman about securing it.
For diplomatic reasons, Klopp may feel he has more to lose than he gains if he looks beyond his most experienced defender, especially if Van Dijk feels offended if he is insulted. Van Dijk is a Dutch captain, a natural leader and one of the most vocal players at the club, never shying away from public scrutiny, whatever the outcome. He has been the figurehead of the Anfield dressing room since his debut in 2018, so the promotion will be flawless if, as expected, he wears the armband all the time in the first Premier League game of the season. ec6a94c.jpg» />Virgil van Dijk has been a figurehead for the Liverpool dressing room since 2018. Photo: Getty Images/Matthias Hangst
Indeed, there is only one logical reason why it might not be him. His age. Van Dyck turned 32 earlier this month. He may have two or three years left at the top level, after which Klopp may have to consider another appointment. The same reasoning could rule out Mohamed Salah, and while goalkeepers are more durable, another very popular choice, Alisson Becker, is probably the underdog for the job.
In any other era, Scotland captain Andy Robertson would fit the bill as the perfect Liverpool skipper, a character with a heart on his sleeve whose Glasgow values echo those on the Kop. He will also be a strong candidate that Klopp will not ignore.
But if the Liverpool manager is considering captaining the eight years that Henderson wore the armband, there is only one realistic option.
«The dream is to captain Liverpool
At 24, Trent Alexander-Arnold's time will come sooner or later. A compelling argument can be made that it is time to speed up his work and watch him thrive with added responsibility.
Shortly after his senior debut, Alexander-Arnold expressed his resolve to take on the position.
“My dream is to captain Liverpool,” he told Telegraph Sport in May 2017. “There will be goals to reach along the way, but until I am captain of Liverpool, I will not be satisfied.
“It goes back to Steven Gerrard. He was my idol — to see him with this bandage week after week. I always wanted to be like him, so wearing this headband meant a lot to me.”
Gerrard's model is appropriate.
As a child Liverpool fan and academy graduate, Gerrard was the club's icon for 12 years as a skipper. He set the standard on and off the field by captaining Gérard Houllier, who emerged from a difficult period in his nascent career when his form faltered and all positive headlines about being a Kopa idol were temporarily replaced with question marks due to his perceived shortcomings. .jpg» /> Steven Gerrard set the standard for Liverpool both on and off the pitch, inspiring the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Photo: Getty Images/Alex Livesey
At the time, his elevation was controversial, as Gerrard took the armband from Sami Hyipia. This turned out to be a masterstroke as Gerrard's consistency rose to an exceptional level. Responsibility has led to greater maturity on and off the field. Whenever he spoke, especially before the most important games, his words and demeanor carried great power and emotion.
Alexander-Arnold also recently recovered from the most difficult period of his career. Finally transformed into a midfielder, whether as a regular international or playing right-back for his club, he is on the cusp of an exciting new phase.
If the last 10 games of last season are a tryout, Alexander-Arnold will be one of the most prolific players in Europe this coming season. He has the potential to dominate the pace and tone of most of Liverpool's games — players, teammates and fans could become more dependent, as happened with Gerrard.
Given this, why wait? The absolute honor of captaining Liverpool would complement his current transformation on the pitch.
Klopp inherited a situation where Henderson was the skipper and Brendan Rodgers offered him a bounty when Gerrard left for LA Galaxy in 2015.
The first time Henderson and his deputy James Milner were unavailable, Klopp allowed the players to vote on who should be the skipper and who is vice-captain. Van Dijk has been chosen.
Like many foreign coaches, Klopp often gives the impression that the media and fans are more concerned about where he wears the bandage than he should be. There are so many personalities in the dressing room that some are more natural than others, no matter who the captain is.
Captainship can be a more symbolic role, but sometimes the symbolism matters and excites the fans.
When remodeling a team to signify that the long-term future is in good hands, who better to captain than a world-class local guy who is the epitome of a football club?
Свежие комментарии