Even Jurgen Klopp wasn’t sure how Liverpool would react to losing their two major dressing-room voices, Jordan Henderson and James Milner, in the summer.
So far, so good. Liverpool haven’t lacked for leadership at all this season as they’ve joined Manchester City and Arsenal as title contenders, with a winnable game at Luton on Sunday to keep the pressure on.
Virgil van Dijk has worn the armband like he’s had it all his life, assisted by his deputy Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Besides van Dijk, Klopp also has four other international captains Andy Robertson (Scotland), Mo Salah (Egypt), Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary) and Wataru Endo (Japan) in his squad and other senior figures like Alisson and Joel Matip.