Alisson Becker has been named Liverpool's new vice-captain, though manager Andoni Iraola has clarified that the goalkeeper will not wear the armband on the pitch. Iraola cited Premier League regulations which stipulate that only captains can speak to the referee about contentious decisions.
Iraola explained that it would be impractical for a goalkeeper to run the length of the pitch to communicate with officials, particularly if incidents occur in the opposition's penalty area. He confirmed that Dominik Szoboszlai, last season's player of the season, and Joe Gomez, the club's longest-serving player, are also part of the new leadership group.
The manager's decision follows the departures of influential figures Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah over the summer. Iraola stated that he is not concerned about a lack of leaders, believing that many young players are ready to step into these roles.