Liverpool needs to choose a new vice captain as Andy Robertson, who held that title, left the club to join Tottenham Hotspur. Newly appointed Andoni Iraola will decide on some key players, including Alisson Becker, Dominik Szoboszlai, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, and more.
With the appointment of new manager Andoni Iraola, he will have many key decisions to make. One of his first tasks will be deciding on Liverpool’s next vice captain.
Following the departure of Andrew Robertson, Liverpool has a hole to fill with the person who becomes the vice captain. It’s an important role in helping set and maintain the high standards that the club demands.
With senior players leaving over the past couple of seasons, it begs the question: Who will be stepping up and taking on the responsibility?
Alisson Becker
Credit: REUTERSPerhaps the favourite for the role is Liverpool’s number one goalkeeper, Alisson Becker. He is seen as one of the senior figures at the club at 33, and the club were keen to keep him on board for the next season.
During ‘Inside Anfield’ videos, Alisson has been shown throughout the years as a vocal leader at the club. Against Chelsea in 2024, he expressed how the players should fight for their lives on the pitch, in a game where they went on to win.
“Every challenge is important. We have to defend with our lives, huh? We are defending our lives there in the goal.”
Most recently, there was a huge point of conflict in the Liverpool dressing room as Mohamed Salah spoke publicly about his relationship with Arne Slot and the club. Alisson was the player who stepped up to take on an interview, knowing full well the questions that were going to come his way.
During the interview, he spoke about the need for senior players to also step up. Not just the captain (Virgil van Dijk) and vice captain (Andy Robertson).
“The expectations are that the senior players that we step up, the expectation from the club as well. That's [what] we are here for also. Of course, we are here to win games, to win titles, to perform. But in my opinion, I take this responsibility, and I feel this responsibility that I can give more to the team than just playing well, but I can give a good contribution by being a leader to the youngest ones, to the new players. We've been here so long, so in a way we have the Liverpool way in our mentality, and I think that should go on to the other players, and we are the players that have to pass [it] on.”
As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Alisson’s actions on the pitch have been nothing short of world-class for eight seasons.
Despite being a goalkeeper, it’s important for players in leadership roles to also lead by example. Alisson always steps up when it matters most. Most recently, against Brentford, he pulled off an incredible save, keeping the score level at the time.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Credit: REUTERSLiverpool’s Hungarian no.8 will be another strong candidate for the role. He has just had his best performing season in a Liverpool shirt and made the Fans’ Premier League Team of the Season.
Many fans claim Szoboszlai is capable of becoming Liverpool’s future captain, let alone vice captain. However, this would be a big step in helping him achieve that.
He is 25 years old, but there are times when his actions/words in moments have been questionable. Just a few weeks back, when Liverpool lost their chance to secure UCL qualification against Aston Villa, Dominik Szoboszlai was posting McDonald’s adverts on his Instagram.
Twice, he has also made gestures to fans, which have caused controversy. The second time he had to clear up in an interview was a misunderstanding.
He was first at the end of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw, which saw Trent Alexander-Arnold get booed from some of the Anfield crowd. Szoboszlai gestured towards the fans and threw his arms up in the air, walking off as they continued to boo the boyhood red who ran down his contract.
The second was against Manchester City as the club lost 4-0 and was knocked out of the FA Cup. He shrugged his shoulders to the travelling fans, to which Federico Chiesa had to pull him away.
“Maybe it was a misunderstanding between me and the fans. I didn't mean it in a bad way.
Obviously, I know what the fans mean for this club and what this club means for the fans. We do everything for them. If it is a misunderstanding, then I apologise.”
Whilst these aren’t great moments for Szoboszlai, he is clearly an emotional footballer and gives it his all. No captain has been perfect, so it’s not something that should be used against him in any decision-making.
Joe Gomez
Credit: REUTERSNaturally, the club looks to the longest-serving players as the ones to step up. That introduces the possibility of Joe Gomez becoming the new vice captain, as he has been at the club for 11 seasons.
This appointment would be surprising given Joe Gomez’s lack of playing time. He’s been an exceptional character off the pitch, causing little to no drama whatsoever, so if he were to be picked, it’s not one many could have problems with.
Curtis Jones
Credit: REUTERSAnother obvious candidate would be the boyhood red and scouser Curtis Jones. However, following reports suggesting that Jones still wants out of Liverpool, it wouldn’t be the smartest appointment.
Just a few months back, Curtis Jones expressed his desire to become club captain one day in an interview with Sky Sports. Despite this interview, Curtis Jones was hoping for a transfer to Inter Milan a few weeks later during the winter transfer window.
“I wanna be captain of the team, I wanna stay here for all my life like the man who I look up to as Gerrard.”
Surely a player whose head has been turned has no chance of becoming the vice-captain of Liverpool. It sets the precedent that this role has no significance if that is the case.
Author’s verdict
There are two obvious candidates in Alisson Becker and Dominik Szoboszlai. However, given the way Alisson conducts himself on and off the pitch, he is the favourite.
It’s not that Szoboszlai is a horrible character; in fact, it’s the opposite, but at this level, it’s not a great look when a vice captain seems not to understand the consequences of his actions. Gesturing towards supporters is never a good look at any level, but at a club like Liverpool, it’s something that sticks.
Alisson has proved time and time again for several years that he’s a capable leader. Whether it’s pre-game speeches or stepping up to take interviews at crucial times, he doesn’t shy away from the responsibility.
