Liverpool appointed Jordan Henderson with the crucial responsibility to succeed Steven Gerrard’s legacy as captain, and it was choice applauded by the majority of Kopites given his development from an average Sunderland prodigy, to one of the best midfielders in England.
The passion and determination he oozes is contagious.
Brendan Rodgers now needs to select a deputy, an under-study, someone who can fill Henderson’s boots in his absence, yet embody everything he stands for and ignite the thousands of Reds watching worldwide.
There are a few candidates, some more likely than others. We have seasoned Liverpool veterans Lucas Leiva and Marin Skrtel, the experienced James Milner, or even the brilliant Brazilian Philippe Coutinho and deadly Daniel Sturridge.
Lucas Leiva
After tumultuous beginnings at Anfield almost nine years ago, the Brazilian defensive midfielder has won over the Liverpool faithful through his exceptional tactical abilities and a tireless attitude that has him constantly putting the club first.
Lucas seems to have a positive aura and rarely drops his head or sulks. He demonstrates gamesmanship, whether it be a cheeky stab at an official or banter with an opponent. Perhaps, what is most impressive and an integral part of any form of captaincy, is the trait of inspiring through silence, and leading with actions, not words. This is something the 28-year-old delivers day in day out, whether it is a sequence of perfectly timed tackles to defuse a dangerous situation or intercepting a pass to win Liverpool possession.
Unfortunately, Lucas fell through the cracks a little last season following an injury which had him sidelined for the majority of the campaign, and his fragile nature could go down as a negative on his resume. You cannot lead from the sidelines – simple. Rodgers may echo those words and elect to go in an alternative direction.
Martin Skrtel
The enforcer, the brute within Liverpool’s back line and a former deputy, Skrtel is more than qualified to take on the role. Having made over 300 appearances for the Reds since joining from Russian outfit Zenit in 2008, the Slovakian has established himself as the centrepiece within the Reds’ defence and a senior member of the squad.
The 30-year-old excels as a leader through his sheer aggression and fearless personality. Besides that, he has Liverpool plastered all over his body in the form of tattoos.
Where could it go wrong? Skrtel’s strengths could also be called weaknesses. Captaincy requires a tough exterior and brash outlook, and other sides need to fear even the vice-captain. However, at times, Skrtel can get a little hot tempered and it can lead to an ill-disciplined tackle or outburst, an act that has landed him in many a referee’s notebook.
James Milner
Possibly a controversial choice considering the Englishman only joined Liverpool in July from rivals Manchester City, but Milner cannot be ruled out due to his on-field presence and vast English Premier League experience with the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
Milner is arguably one of the hardest working players in world football, and his usefulness almost anywhere on the pitch makes him a delightful option for any coach. The positive persona the England international exerts and his playing consistency also adds more weight to his campaign, plus a blessing from Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher certainly helps.
Again though, the idea of giving the role to such a fresh face amongst the Liverpool locker room would undermine the decades between Lucas and Skrtel and more importantly go down negatively with sections of Anfield, although Milner’s credentials speak in volumes.
Philippe Coutinho
A long shot at best, but an appointment that would please many Liverpool supporters, as the Brazilian was the Reds’ best player last season and is a figure that many Kopites would love to see at the club for a long time.
Coutinho has the ability and skill to inspire without speech, you just have to look at the world class goals he scored to get Liverpool out of a tight situation. The 23-year-old has also spoken about his love for Merseyside and alluded to the club as more of a family.
Although, the attacking midfielder does not appear to be a boisterous type towards teammates, unless a pass was miscued or an incorrect decision was made, and that could rule out the possibility of the Brazilian serving as second in command.
Daniel Sturridge
Liverpool’s premium goalscorer is the final candidate on the list, and another worthy choice due to his stance among Liverpool fans and his importance within the team. Sturridge is exciting, and has a confident and level head on his shoulders.
For similar reasons to Coutinho, the Englishman needs to be in consideration and under the guidance of Henderson and Sturridge could evolve into a true leader, which in turn may develop his game to levels that were not previously attainable.
Sturridge can tend to get frustrated when the opportunities are not finding the back of the net, and that can have a domino effect on the team. Another downfall is the 25-year-old’s unlucky injury run. Like Lucas, it is an impossible task to lead from the sidelines.
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James Millner