Trent Alexander-Arnold has just left Arne Slot with a big job on his hands at Liverpool this summer.
The 26-year-old has of course confirmed his decision to leave Anfield at the end of his contract this summer, bringing an end to his 20-year association with the club. The wheels are already in motion for a move to Real Madrid, with the Spanish giant looking to secure his signing early with the Club World Cup in mind.
Alexander-Arnold’s departure of course leaves Slot – and indeed sporting director Richard Hughes – with a decision to make on how to replace him in his squad. Conor Bradley looks the obvious candidate to step up as the first-choice right-back, although a new face could be sought during the transfer window, with Jeremie Frimpong of interest to the Reds.
That’s not the only big decision Alexander-Arnold leaves for his current boss though. Having been appointed vice-captain just two years ago, a new deputy for Virgil van Dijk will now have to be appointed.
There are some obvious candidates. Senior trio Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Alisson Becker will likely be the frontrunners.
The vice-captaincy might not seem like the grandest of positions, but it’s a decision that could be fraught with danger – especially if Slot overlooks Salah.
The Egyptian will certainly be in contention for the role, but that doesn’t mean he will be a dead cert for it. Salah has clearly seen himself as a leader at Liverpool for some time, and he was left angry when Jurgen Klopp decided against giving him the armband for a Champions League tie against Midtjylland back in 2020.
Having already secured their qualification for the knockout stages, Klopp named a much-changed side for the final group game in Denmark. With Jordan Henderson, Van Dijk, Alisson and Robertson all rested, Salah was one of the most senior players named in the side, but the captaincy was instead handed to a then-22-year-old Alexander-Arnold.
“Honestly, I was very disappointed,” Salah told Diario AS after the game. “I was expecting to be the captain. But it’s a manager’s decision, so I accept it.”
Klopp would go on to admit that he may have made a mistake by handing the captaincy to Alexander-Arnold that day – although he still didn’t feel it should have gone to Salah, with an even longer-serving player missing out.
“I didn’t make it that complicated, I just gave Trent the armband,” Klopp said. “And I spoke to Mo about it after the game and when I realized it didn’t work out that well, I clarified that and he said it again in the interview, so not a problem for me.
“He said he was disappointed and I didn’t do it on purpose, I just did what I did. If I made a mistake then it was that Divock Origi was not the captain.”
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Of course, Slot faces a different sort of decision this time around. Nevertheless, Salah will likely be expecting to, at the very least, be in the conversation to take on Alexander-Arnold’s role, and his argument would be a compelling one.
He is, after all, arguably the most important player in the side, or at least second after Van Dijk, and he will start the majority of games, meaning he will be on hand should the Dutchman not be able to take on his usual duties.
What’s more, Robertson may well see less game time from next season if, as expected, Liverpool targets a new left-back this summer. Alisson, meanwhile, probably should hang on to his No.1 spot, even with Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving, but there is a school of thought that an outfield player is a better option to take on the armband when needed.
There is one other player though that might just stand in Salah’s way. Alexis Mac Allister has established himself as one of Liverpool’s most important players since arriving in 2023, and his influence does seem to be growing, having seemingly become the latest addition to the Anfield leadership group last year.
(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
“Me, Virgil, Robbo, Trent, Mo – Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] now is someone that is bringing his experience as well,” Alisson explained when discussing the group in an interview. “He is young, but he has achieved so many things already, and that brings him to a standard of good leadership.”
Mac Allister would be an interesting choice as the next vice-captain. A proven winner with club and country, he could well be a candidate to take on the captaincy when Van Dijk departs, whether that is in two years or further down the line.
Assuming he doesn’t end up following Alexander-Arnold to Madrid at some point, Mac Allister should be around the squad longer than Salah, Robertson or Alisson. If Slot is looking more long-term, then the Argentine might well fit the bill.
It’s a decision that the Liverpool boss will have to give more thought to than he perhaps might have expected. He has had a good relationship with Salah so far, but this could be a first test for the pair.
