Liverpool are searching for a new captain for the first time in eight years after Jordan Henderson confirmed his departure to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.
With Jurgen Klopp's men in Premier League action on August 13, there is little time for soul-searching or stasis and a successor must be appointed.
While there is a strong harmony in the Reds' squad, it is important for any club to appoint the right captain, particularly in a global age when they represent the club to so many and have to traverse a politicised sporting landscape.