Andoni Iraola already facing vital Liverpool decision after legends quit Anfield
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Liverpool will need to appoint a new vice-captain this summer following the departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, and new head coach Andoni Iraola has a big decision to makeAndoni Iraola has to select a new Liverpool vice-captain(Image: Getty Images)For the third time in three years, Liverpool faces the task of appointing a vice-captain to club skipper Virgil van Dijk this summer.It was on the pitches of the Singapore National Stadium, during a pre-season tour of the Far East, that Van Dijk and his deputy, Trent Alexander-Arnold, were informed of the plans by then-manager Jurgen Klopp.The exchange with Alexander-Arnold was actually filmed without audio by the club's official television channel, as Klopp revealed to the West Derby-born right-back that he envisioned him as Van Dijk's right-hand man in his role as Liverpool captain. Slot's reasoning was that Salah would rarely, if ever, require the armband given that both he and Van Dijk featured in the starting line-up for the majority of matches.Robertson, meanwhile, who faced stiff competition from Milos Kerkez, was more likely to captain the side when both fellow stalwarts were rested for cup fixtures.However, less than a year into his role as vice-captain, Robertson is set to join Tottenham after the World Cup, leaving new head coach Andoni Iraola with an early leadership dilemma.Dominik Szoboszlai is an obvious candidate(Image: Getty Images)Alisson Becker would be an obvious candidate, given his longevity and influence behind the scenes.
The long-serving goalkeeper is not one for outbursts in the Anfield dressing room, yet his quiet counsel is said to carry considerable weight.As he prepares to embark on his ninth term as Liverpool's number one, few are better positioned to step into Van Dijk's role as deputy. The Hungary international already captains his national side and was one of the very few whose performances did not fall away sharply during a challenging campaign under Slot last term.When asked whether he envisaged himself taking on a more senior role within the squad last season, Szoboszlai was careful to talk up the leaders already present at Anfield, saying: "We have enough leaders with Virgil, with Mo, with Robbo, with Ali."Those remarks came shortly after a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in November, but with both Salah and Robertson now heading for pastures new, a significant void has opened up in the squad for someone to fill.
A common critique of Liverpool last season centered on the team's shortage of leaders, but as he prepares for his fourth campaign on Merseyside, the former RB Leipzig midfielder has demonstrated enough to indicate he can lead by example on the pitch.With two years remaining on his contract, it is understood Szoboszlai is eager to remain on Merseyside, with negotiations having been ongoing for some time between sporting director Richard Hughes and the No. 8's agent, Matyas Esterhazy.Szoboszlai has firmly established himself on Merseyside alongside his partner Borka and their young daughter, and an elevation to the vice-captaincy would serve as a further signal from the Anfield hierarchy that they are intent on securing the dynamic midfielder's prime years at just 25 years of age.With Robertson and Salah, icons of a bygone era, now having departed, a fresh chapter under Iraola is rapidly taking shape, and Liverpool's next generation of leaders must now come to the fore.