Jordan Henderson has worn the Liverpool captain’s armband and has done so since 2015, but who are his current substitutes in Jurgen Klopp’s squad?
The Reds have had a long list of captains throughout their illustrious history, many of whom have been the first to lay their hands on a newly won trophy and lift it into the air.
Henderson is no different, but he is the only captain in club history to lift six different trophies – that’s a record to have!
And throughout his journey with the bracelet he has had at least one deputy by his side, now there is a group of six that make up the captaincy group.
Who is in the group of captains?
Henderson is the captain and has been since 2015, with James Milner appointed as his second captain at the same time; Brendan Rodgers confirmed both decisions.
In 2018, Klopp announced that Virgil van Dijk was voted in as substitute captain following the players’ vote.
The same system was then used when the group expanded to six, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Alisson all added to the fold in 2021.
But we have yet to come across a scenario that has tested the trio’s pecking order for the bracelet.
Jordan Henderson – Captain James Milner – Vice Captain Virgil van Dijk – Third Captain Trent Alexander-Arnold – Leadership Group Andy Robertson – Leadership Group Alisson – Leadership Group
What has Klopp said?
Following the departure of Gini Wijnaldum in 2021, the Reds lost a player who was considered their fourth captain and who wore the armband a total of 11 times throughout his Liverpool career.
His departure left a vacancy in the group behind Henderson, Milner and Van Dijk, and after seeing injuries move the bracelet through the squad, the top group was expanded.
In 2021, Klopp explained:
“We had the three that stayed and then the players voted for another three.
“The [main] three are Hendo, Milly and Virg, the next with the most votes [were for] Trent, Robbo, and Alisson Becker.
“We had a problem last year [2020/21] occasionally that so many players couldn’t play that we didn’t have any of the captains available.
“So I thought it made sense to bulk up the group a little bit. That’s what we did.”
Has the group changed?
There’s certainly a chance another vote was taken, it’s not uncommon in sports for leadership groups to be evaluated before each season.
Klopp has not confirmed this to be the case anyway, but given that none of the six players named in the group last season left the club, he suspects they will all remain in place for 2022/23.
So far this season, only Henderson, Milner and Van Dijk have worn the bracelet.
Alisson has led the team twice, Alexander-Arnold has done so once, in 2020, while Robertson has yet to lead the team from the start of a game.
