Liverpool Names Alisson as Vice-Captain Amid Rule Restrictions Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has officially appointed goalkeeper Alisson Becker as the club’s new vice-captain, though the Brazilian will not don the armband during matches. The decision comes as Virgil van Dijk, the team’s long-standing captain, remains sidelined due to injury, and Andy Robertson, the previous vice-captain, has transferred to Tottenham. Iraola emphasized that new Premier League rules make it impractical for goalkeepers to serve as team captains, citing the risk of being forced out of position to communicate with referees. The manager explained that the current regulations require captains to be available to relay decisions from referees, a role that could disrupt a goalkeeper’s positioning during critical moments. Iraola referenced his experience with goalkeeper Neto at Bournemouth, where the need to rotate captains for each match proved unsustainable. “It’s not viable to have a different captain every game,” he said, adding that the rules “put a lot of disadvantages” on goalkeepers assuming leadership roles. Despite the armband restriction, Alisson has moved up in the leadership hierarchy, surpassing Joe Gomez, the club’s longest-serving player, who is currently injured and may miss key matches. Meanwhile, Dominik Szoboszlai, who captains Hungary, is positioned to take on a de facto leadership role within the team. Iraola clarified that while multiple players will hold captaincy responsibilities in different scenarios, Alisson’s role as vice-captain is symbolic rather than operational. Van Dijk, who captained Liverpool in all 38 Premier League matches last season without missing a minute, remains a central figure in the squad.#liverpool #andy_robertson #virgil_van_dijk #andoni_iraola #alissone_becker
