Former Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson has congratulated Virgil Van Djik online on his appointment as the new Reds’ captain.
LFC announced Virgil Van Djik as their new captain yesterday. The Dutchman succeeded Henderson after his eight-year stint came to an end as he moved to Saudi Arabia.
Jurgen Klopp might not have thought of appointing a new captain and a vice-captain this summer. James Milner’s departure was obvious so Van Djik was an easy choice as the second-in-command.
But Henderson leaving Anfield was quite a shock for both the club and the fans. And as a result, the German had to make a quick decision before the season starts.
Henderson reacts to Liverpool appointing Van Djik as captain
The Dutch international also captains the Netherlands national team, thus, no doubt he possess the leadership skills required on-field.
And the English midfielder took this opportunity to congratulate the newly appointed captain. He wished both Van Djik and Trent Alexander-Arnold for their new job role on his Instagram stories.
He wrote “Good luck boys,” alongside a love heart emoji, a salute, and a bicep flex. There must have been many more words exchanged between the current and the former skipper but these are all which have come out in public.
The Dutchman’s selection was an obvious choice as he led the Merseysiders many times in the past whenever Henderson or Milner were not available. He also fits the profile to lead the side.
However, Trent’s selection as the deputy of the Dutch centre-back is a little surprising. The team has several other senior figures that could have potentially led the Anfield giants.
First and foremost was obviously Andy Robertson who is Scotland’s national team captain and also led the Reds in the absence of Henderson, Milner, or Van Dijk.
Another strong contender was Mohamed Salah who leads his national team. Also, Allison Becker has been a significant player throughout the seasons who has saved the club from staying between the sticks.
But the choice has probably been made from a more tactical point of view rather than an emotional one. Van Dijk is already 32 which means he will also part ways in the next few years.
And when that day comes, the now 24-year-old Trent will reach his prime by then and the club will have a rightful Scouse captain to lead them.
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