Van Dijk names Szoboszlai as his long-term successor as Liverpool captain

Virgil van Dijk has identified Dominik Szoboszlai as his long-term successor as Liverpool captain, saying the Hungarian midfielder’s new five-year contract and his composure under pressure make him the natural heir to the armband.

The comments came after Liverpool rescued a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park, with Szoboszlai — recently added to the club’s leadership group by head coach Andoni Iraola — stepping up to convert a penalty in the 99th minute. Van Dijk was unambiguous about what that moment signalled. “He has to take responsibility to take that on his shoulders and it is going to benefit us also in the long run with Szoboszlai signing a new deal,” the captain said. “He will be here to take over.”

Szoboszlai was named Liverpool’s player of the year last season and opened the current campaign with a goal. Van Dijk praised the 24-year-old’s nerve in converting the late spot-kick. “He took plenty already and he scored plenty. Not a bad hit. He has the quality. He has shown it in the penalties he took in previous years. It was quite a high-tension penalty and it shows how good a player he is.”

Szoboszlai’s elevation to the leadership group follows the departures of vice-captain Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah. The remaining senior figures — Van Dijk, Alisson and Joe Gomez — are all in the final year of their contracts, leaving the Hungarian as the group’s only member with long-term security at the club.

Also discussed in the aftermath of the Newcastle draw was the reception given to Alexander Isak, who was jeered and whistled by the St James’ Park crowd on his first return since his £125m move to Anfield last summer. Van Dijk played down any suggestion the hostile atmosphere affected the Sweden striker. “I wasn’t affected by it if I was him. I don’t think he was affected by it. He tried to play his game. There were good moments and there were moments he could have done better, like all of us.”

Liverpool are still in the market for a wide attacker to replace Salah, having had two bids for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh rejected last week. Van Dijk declined to push publicly for specific additions but expressed confidence in the club’s recruitment process. “Everyone wants to see quality arrive regardless. I fully trust the club and the board to make the right decisions.”

The captain also acknowledged that adapting to Iraola’s methods will require patience. “It is absolutely normal in any type of profession or work that if you come in new and you have new plans and ideas that it takes a bit of time,” he said. “It is down to us to do it as soon as we can.”