Who Should Be Liverpool’s Next Captain?

This doesn’t mean Skrtel would be captain for the next decade but the likelihood is that he will be part of the defence next season, even if Liverpool sign another centre-back, whether that’d be Mats Hummels or Ron Vlaar. Moreover, Skrtel has immense experience with Liverpool, having arrived at the club in 2008 and was firmly part of the successful era of Rafael Benitez and has fought back into the team after being temporarily replaced by a retiring Jamie Carragher in early 2013.

Therefore, for the short-term Skrtel would be the better choice, before someone who looks likely to be one of the first names on the teamsheet in 2016/17 then succeeds him – perhaps Daniel Sturridge?

The lack of alternatives highlights the problem currently with Liverpool’s squad – it is incredibly young and full of potential but in today’s money and Champions League-dominated world, potential has to be current.

Otherwise the alternative is a slow demise from the height of being one of the biggest clubs in the world and a consistent failure to attract top class stars, which is arguably already happening (although Brendan Rodgers meagre reputation is a factor for this – like many of his players, he is young and has potential but not proven consistent quality).

There is no obvious replacement for Steven Gerrard – there was never going to be off the field, given his aura and history with the club. It would have required someone like Jamie Carragher or Robbie Fowler to make up that hole. However, on the pitch there are few experienced, yet top-class players.

Lucas Leiva is enjoying a decent resurgence this season but is likely to leave in the summer, or perhaps still this month, while Mamadou Sakho may have been a former PSG skipper at a young age but his place next season is far from assured with a new centre back likely to arrive and take his place – Dejan Lovren Mark 2.

The less said about Mark 1 the better.

In previous regimes, such as under Houllier and Benitez, Liverpool enjoyed a golden spell from the academy where the local lads could provide that home-grown connection to the club, such as Gerrard, Carragher, Fowler, McManaman, Owen, Murphy et al, but also foreign stars who possessed bags of quality and experience.

The likes of Sami Hyypia, Gary McAllister, Pepe Reina, Javier Mascherano (the best player in the world according to some!), Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres were all regulars, leaders and classy players – there is no one of that blend currently in the Liverpool squad to replace Gerrard, highlighting the amount of work needed to turn Liverpool into a force that is consistently challenging for honours again.

One player left out of the foreign list above was Xabi Alonso. This is because he would still represent an ideal choice to succeed Gerrard as Liverpool captain.

Of course there is the small problem that he is currently contracted to another club in the German superpower of Bayern Munich but after just one year he is likely to accomplish everything in German football and therefore a return to his beloved Anfield may appeal to the Spaniard.

Moreover, the fee would probably be small, but certainly worth it – not just in the leadership and experience he would provide, but the connection he has with the fans and the aura he now carries with numerous trophies in his collection, including two Champions League titles.

Most importantly though, he is still a world-class operator. He may not have the legs to patrol the entire midfield in the Premier League (like Gerrard was asked to do last season and was finally exposed this season to Rodgers), but alongside a midfield partner he could flourish again at Liverpool, being one of the best passers of the ball in world football.

With lots of energy and passion around him, Alonso would be the man to add a touch of calm and class to the team, always aware of everything around him, exactly like Gerrard at the moment – knowing when to play the right ball and which ball to play.

However, if the Alonso return does not materialize then Skrtel is the obvious short-term choice, with Henderson being the long-term option. Nevertheless, with Rodgers’ desire to remain at Anfield for many years yet it means Henderson is very likely to take up the mantle that Gerrard will vacate this summer, after 12 years as Liverpool captain.

Steven Gerrard cannot be replaced, that much is certain. All the Reds can do is try to mature as a whole group and each assume that bit of responsibility, regardless of who actually leads the team – they should all try to be leaders, akin to the Houllier and Benitez era and the hugely successful 1970s and 80s players.

A figure such as Alonso would be ideal to guide this young squad through the process but fingers crossed Henderson can make the step up.

He has some big shoes to fill.