Andoni Iraola has crucial early Liverpool decision to make after free transfer

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

Pau Gorst makes the case for one player in particularFor the third time in three years, Liverpool will need to appoint a vice-captain to club skipper Virgil van Dijk this summer.It was on the pitches of the Singapore National Stadium, on a pre-season tour of the Far East, when Van Dijk and deputy Trent Alexander-Arnold were told of the plans from then manager Jurgen Klopp.The conversation with Alexander-Arnold was actually captured without audio by the club's official TV channel at the time as Klopp revealed to the West Derby-born right-back that he wanted him to be Van Dijk's right-hand man in his role as the official club captain.Twelve months ago, following Alexander-Arnold's decision to join Real Madrid, Arne Slot opted for a more experienced operator to stand next to Van Dijk. Andy Robertson got the nod over Mohamed Salah, who himself had a strong claim, particularly following an influential campaign when his goals fired the Reds to their 20th title.The thinking, Slot reasoned, was that it was always unlikely that Salah would ever need the armband given both he and Van Dijk started most games together.Whereas Robertson, who faced fresh competition from £40m arrival Milos Kerkez, was more likely to play when both of his fellow stalwarts were rested for cup duty.But less than a year after becoming vice-captain, Robertson is bound for Tottenham Hotspur after the World Cup and new head coach, Andoni Iraola, has an early decision to make over the leadership structure of his squad.Alisson Becker would be an obvious example given his longevity and behind-the-scenes influence.

The now long-serving goalkeeper is not a ranter or a raver inside the Anfield dressing room but his quiet word is said to carry a considerable weight.And as he approaches his ninth term as Liverpool's No.1, few are well placed to take the role of Van Dijk's deputy. Many at Anfield still regard Alisson as one of the finest goalkeepers on the planet.Failing an appointment of the Brazilian, however, might Iraola be tempted to give Dominik Szoboszlai a promotion of sorts inside the group?The Hungary international already wears the armband for his nation and was one of the very few whose performances didn't dip dramatically during a difficult campaign under Slot last time out.Asked if he saw himself stepping into a more senior position in the squad last season, Szoboszlai was coy enough to talk up the totems that already existed at Anfield, saying: "We have enough leaders with Virgil, with Mo, with Robbo, with Ali."They have been here longer, some of them seven or eight years here, the captain and vice-captains.

If it seems like I am a leader, then I'll keep doing that on the pitch, not outside the pitch."Those comments came fresh from a 1-0 win over Real Madrid in November but with Salah and Robertson both now set for pastures new, a gaping hole is open in the squad for someone to take advantage of.A familiar criticism of Liverpool last season was their lack of leaders but as he approaches his fourth season on Merseyside, the former RB Leipzig man has shown enough to suggest he can lead by example on the pitch."I hope [I am becoming a leader] but you have to ask someone else how they see it but I try to do my best on and off the pitch, try to keep everyone [together], try to be a leader [with] what I am doing on the pitch and that is the most important thing for me," Szoboszlai told the ECHO in April."He has a lot of attributes already, especially when it comes to leading by example," said now former boss Slot last season. That would be the next step for him; to be as vocal and as loud as Virgil but that comes with time."But for all the other things, he has a lot to become a very influential player for Liverpool and you could call that a leader."As he enters the final two years of his deal, it's understood Szoboszlai is keen to stay on Merseyside and talks have been underway for some time between sporting director Richard Hughes and the No.8's agent, Matyas Esterhazy.Szoboszlai is settled on Merseyside, with his fiance Borka and their young daughter, and a promotion to the vice-captain would be further indication from those at Anfield that they are determined to tie the tireless midfielder down to his best years at the age of 25.With Robertson and Salah, emblems of a previous era, now out the door, a new era under Iraola is fast approaching and the next generation of Liverpool leaders needs to emerge.Few are as well placed as Szoboszlai to step up.