Liverpool name Virgil van Dijk as captain and Trent Alexander-Arnold as vice-captain

Virgil van Dijk has been confirmed as Liverpool's new captain.

The Dutch defender, who is already captain of the Netherlands national team, takes the role from the departing Jordan Henderson, who last week completed his move to £12m to Al-Ettifaq, ending the midfielder's eight-year stint as Reds skipper.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has also been named as Liverpool's vice-captain, a role left vacant by James Milner, who left the club upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Speaking to the club's website, Van Dijk expressed immense pride at being awarded a role that has previously been held by such Liverpool greats including Steven Gerrard, Alan Hansen and Graeme Souness.

“[It’s] a really proud day for me, for my wife, for my kids, my family," he said. "It’s been a special feeling and I can’t really describe it at this point. But it’s something that I’m really, really proud of.

“Obviously I’m captain of Holland, that was already such a huge honour, a proud moment as well. But also to be the captain of Liverpool Football Club is something that I can’t describe at this point.

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“It’s just something that makes me very proud and I will do everything in my power and what I can do to make everyone proud and happy with me and the football club.”

Continuing with his ambitions for the season, Van Dijk insisted that Liverpool will seek to re-establish their position as a top contender in the Premier League, but has pleaded for patience during a time of transition.

“Obviously it has been quite an interesting summer with players obviously leaving and new players coming in, this little transition that is going on," he added.

"We also have to be a bit patient but we want to be there and we want to show what we’re capable of because we have a fantastic group of players, staff, fans, stadium, we shouldn’t even discuss that.

“But we can be up there again. It’s all about doing it together with the consistency and hopefully we can show it.”