Liverpool’s 4-0 humiliation against Manchester City went some way to highlighting the bizarre lack of leadership both on and off the pitch at the club.
The Reds started off well at the Etihad Stadium, but after the setback of Erling Haaland’s penalty opener, they simply – and quickly – went to pieces.
Plenty of blame was attached to captain Virgil van Dijk, but fellow veteran Mohamed Salah also failed to put Liverpool on his shoulders at their time of need. Arne Slot is clearly no chest-beating leader of men, but with a mass exodus of experience expected this summer, firing the Dutchman will not fix what is fast becoming a real issue for the Reds.
Is it time for Van Dijk to join Salah this summer and leave Liverpool?
The errors are beginning to pile up…
Manchester City v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool have a leadership vacuum which is getting worse
Van Dijk has undoubtedly been a terrific captain during his three years in the role so far, but it has often been levelled at him that he is just too casual a character to get his teammates going when the times get tough.
In that scenario, you need a dominant vice-captain to pick up the slack. Jurgen Klopp was blessed with Jordan Henderson and James Milner throughout most of his time at Anfield, but in Andy Robertson, Liverpool now have a second-in-command who rarely plays.
There is little question that Robertson is one of the real leaders of the current dressing room, but the Scot is almost certainly leaving this summer, meaning Slot will once again have to pick a new vice.
With the experience of Salah also heading out of the door, Liverpool’s lack of grit is going to get much worse before it gets better. Another international captain, Wataru Endo, is surely departing as well, leaving the Reds without the big characters they need to correct their course.
Dominik Szoboszlai reacts in front of the Liverpool fans after the FA Cup defeat against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
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As Van Dijk continues into the autumn of his career, there has been much debate about which of the current Liverpool squad could succeed him as captain, but when the chips were truly down on Saturday, not one of them stepped up to throw their hat into the ring.
Younger Liverpool players are not leaders at all
The one name who has been put forward as a credible potential successor to Van Dijk this season is Dominik Szoboszlai. However, the Hungarian outed himself as someone who should be nowhere near the armband in the aftermath of Saturday’s FA Cup exit.
Szoboszlai was seen sarcastically applauding supporters at the full-time whistle, and though he has his qualities as leader of his national team, the 25-year-old just does not seem to understand Liverpool as a club.
This was certainly not captain behaviour, but the bad news is that, beyond Szoboszlai, it is hard to see who Liverpool are supposed to look to.
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Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes watching on during the Reds' Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (Credit: Getty Images/Robin Jones).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Robin Jones
Alexis Mac Allister has some leadership qualities, but he has been missing during difficult moments this season and could potentially be leaving anyway.
New signings such as Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike also go into hiding when things go against them, and while Milos Kerkez certainly shows the right passion and commitment, he is unlikely to be under consideration.
What is clear is that Liverpool badly need to add some steel this summer both in terms of the character of their new signings and their profile on the pitch. Leaders tend to emerge at football clubs when things begin to unravel, but though the Reds have given their players plenty of chances to step up this season, nobody has taken the reins.
Sacking Slot and installing a more effusive, enthusiastic figurehead will help to solve this and translate more fight onto the pitch, but it has to come from the players. Until Liverpool bring in some sturdier characters, who is on the touchline is unlikely to make a huge difference.
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