Joe Gomez compares captains Virgil van Dijk and Jordan Henderson

Joe Gomez has compared Virgil van Dijk with Jordan Henderson as Liverpool captain. The Dutchman took over the armband in the summer.

Liverpool made some massive changes in 2023 as several key stars left the club. Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Fabinho were huge departures but arguably the biggest was Jordan Henderson.

Henderson had been Liverpool captain since Steven Gerrard's own departure in 2015. He'd been remarkably successful, too, and won more individual trophies with the Reds' armband than anyone in history.

The man to replace him was essentially a foregone conclusion in Virgil van Dijk. Van Dijk, who also captains the Netherlands national side, felt like an obvious pick to succeed Henderson.

But how have things changed? Joe Gomez recently sat down with Sky Sports to answer some questions, including how Henderson and Van Dijk compare as captains.

"Yeah, in some ways I think [they are different]," said Gomez. "Hendo was so good at being two characters, on and off the pitch, and you understood that for what it was. You embraced his nature on the pitch because you had to - that brought us so much success over the years. Speaks for itself.

"Virg is different, obviously, but he still has that nature on the pitch where he'll impose himself and speak to us, shout at us if he has to because that is needed. But he probably is a bit different in his nature on the pitch.

"But off the pitch, they're both just good people first and foremost. And I think them adapting their nature with different individuals is what makes them good captains."

From they way Gomez talks, it sounds as though there hasn't been too much change. Van Dijk is certainly a calmer presence than Henderson but still boasts a few of the key characteristics that make for a good captain.

Both are natural leaders from the outside looking in and everything you hear from within the club gives the same impression. Liverpool are quite fortunate to have such good options - and will be hoping that Trent Alexander-Arnold is the right man to follow in their footsteps.

But the Reds also boast a few national captains in their squad. Mohamed Salah captains Egypt, Andy Robertson Scotland and now Dominik Szoboszlai as the captain of Hungary. Replacing the leadership of Henderson and Milner was always going to be tough and Jurgen Klopp can be thankful he's got the rare kind of squad to do it.