'Undroppable' Liverpool player has quietly started to announce himself as a future captain at Anfield - opinion

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Liverpool could soon find themselves in a situation of having to pick a new captain and vice-captain for the second time in two years.

Back in the summer of 2023, Liverpool knew they were losing second-in-command James Milner, and would likely have been ready to promote Virgil van Dijk to aid Jordan Henderson.

But after Henderson unexpectedly pushed to leave Anfield for Saudi Arabia, Liverpool bumped Van Dijk up to the top job and went in search of a new vice.

In reality, it was perhaps not a difficult decision for Jurgen Klopp to hand duties off to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Liverpool academy graduate is already an experienced player and with other candidates such as Mohamed Salah on the older side, there was a feeling that Alexander-Arnold was the future.

Just over one year on, though, and there is significant doubt over the futures of Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold as well as Salah. Once again, someone may have to fill the vacuum. And Alexis Mac Allister is seemingly stepping up as a surprise option.

Alexis Mac Allister showing quiet leadership

Obviously, the vast majority of Liverpool supporters will hope that there is no need for a change in captain or vice-captain this summer.

Optimism remains that Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold will sign extensions to make all of this a moot point.

But the reality is that that is still far from assured. With Salah also then likely to depart as well, that would leave Alisson Becker and Andy Robertson as the only members of the current Liverpool leadership group.

Alisson recently revealed that Mac Allister has been promoted to the leadership group, though. Despite being just 25, the Argentine appears to have earned the respect of the biggest players in the Liverpool squad.

READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister shares what has changed at Liverpool since Arne Slot arrived

“He is young, but he has achieved so many things already," Alisson said. "And that brings him to a standard of good leadership."

Should all three of Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Salah leave, someone will be badly needed to step up.

Alisson would seem like an obvious candidate for captain, with Robertson also in the mix. But there have been question marks over Alisson’s future, too, while Robertson’s own contract expires in 2026.

Long-term, if it isn’t Alexander-Arnold, then the signs are starting to appear that Mac Allister could be Liverpool’s successor to Van Dijk.

Mac Allister stepping up on the pitch

Obviously, it’s one thing to be a leader in the dressing room and to take charge of important matters relating to the squad.

But a captain really should be a key man on the field, someone ready to lead the team out into every battle they come across, too.

So far this season, Mac Allister has been exactly that for Liverpool. He has looked right at home in his first taste of the Champions League and has been a nailed-on starter for the Reds.

According to Gabriel Agbonlahor, Mac Allister has become ‘undroppable’ for Liverpool. Exactly as a captain should be.

Naturally, if the bigger players in the squad stay, then this ascension will rightfully be pushed back. But even if it is only on an in-game, one-off basis, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Macca wearing the armband at some stage in the near future.