EPL 2016-2017 : 5 choices for Liverpool Captain this coming season

5. Lucas Leiva

Having joined in the summer of 2007, Lucas Leiva is currently the longest serving player at the club. His game has seen a lot of transition in that period with he joining the club as a box-to-box midfielder from Grêmio and then turning into the best defensive midfielder in the league. However, an anterior cruciate ligament injury in December 2011 ruled him out of the 2011-2012 season and he was never the same player again. Last season under Klopp, Lucas was deployed as a makeshift centre-half due to the injury crisis at the club. His tackling and game-reading abilities ensured that he did a fine job and played an integral part in Liverpool’s upturn of form after an abysmal start to the season.

His ability combined with his experience at the club makes him a decent candidate for the captain’s armband. However, he does not suit Klopp’s high energy style of football with age catching up as well. As a number of players are vying up for the midfield positions including new signing Marko Gruji and the fact that the club is looking to bring in a defensive midfielder, Lucas’ days at the clubs could be numbered. He may have to accept the role of a squad player in order to stay at the club. This highly reduces his chances of being named as captain in comparison to the rest of the names on this list.