This is a summer of change for Liverpool in several different ways.
Jurgen Klopp has targeted a midfield rebuild, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai checking in for a combined £95m. More deals could still be on the way.
Yet the dynamics of the dressing room are also shifting, with experienced vice-captain James Milner leaving as a free agent to join Brighton & Hove Albion.
While Jordan Henderson, who took over as the club's captain from Steven Gerrard eight years ago this week, is facing a decision over his Anfield future as transfer interest from Saudi Arabia grows.
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And when Henderson eventually passes on the armband, who could be the player to take it? ECHO writers have their say...
'Trent is the man but curveball option has just arrived'
Theo Squires: Liverpool will have a new vice-captain this season, with Virgil van Dijk likely to be promoted to succeed James Milner.
With Jordan Henderson expected to adopt more of a squad role, the Dutchman could well find himself leading out the Reds more times than not in the months ahead.
Having seen Marco Reus, now aged 34, relinquish the Borussia Dortmund armband earlier this week, a section of fans on social media had been calling for Henderson to do the same.
Realistically, though, that isn’t going to happen. Nor should it. He might have his critics but the former Sunderland man remains one of Liverpool’s greatest ever captains.
But with the Dutchman now 32 and the England international 33, it’s clear they are already beyond the halfway points in their Anfield careers. Sooner or later, a new long-term skipper will emerge.
Jurgen Klopp currently has a five-man leadership group, with Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Alisson Becker next in line to take captaincy duties behind Henderson and Van Dijk. If in need of a new member, expect Mohamed Salah to be at the front of the queue.
And from that quartet, Alexander-Arnold is perhaps the obvious candidate to be the next Liverpool captain, given he will be entering his peak years while his elder team-mates start to decline.
The right-back has previously admitted he has his eyes on taking ownership of armband in a post-Henderson future, while, in a throwback to the Steven Gerrard/Jamie Carragher era, perhaps fellow Scouser Curtis Jones, who is actually the youngest player in the club’s history to have captained the Reds, will emerge as a future vice-captain?
A recent new signing could emerge as a curveball option though. Dominik Szoboszlai. Still only 22, the playmaker is already captain of the Hungary national side. If he lives up to his £60m price-tag, he could easily become a leader for the club in years to come.
Besides, something just feels right about a Liverpool captain wearing the number eight shirt, doesn’t it?
'Liverpool's future captain has already been named'
Sean Bradbury: "Even at the age of 15, he was this natural technical talent. He had all the characteristics I loved: a mentality to win, passionate to improve – but his emotions sometimes took control instead of him taking control over the emotions.
"He trained with so much power and competition. He grew step-by-step into the wonderful guy he is now, surrounded by a lovely family, he created this superb personality.
"I still see the same fire in his eyes in each training session, but I don’t see this young guy anymore; I see a leader, I see someone who controls his emotions, a future captain. A leader by example."
Not my words - but those of Pep Lijnders writing about Trent Alexander-Arnold in his recent book.
When the club's assistant manager has already labelled one current player a 'future captain', it is hard to disagree.
Especially when the Scouse star has already won the lot, is still just 24 years old and now looks set to step forward into midfield.
Alexander-Arnold will have learned plenty from the likes of Jordan Henderson and James Milner about how to lead, motivate, speak and act in the dressing room.
He is also a positive role model and fine ambassador for the city away from football too.
When it is finally time for Henderson to pass on the armband, Liverpool's no.66 is an obvious candidate who will be ready to receive it.
'It's difficult to look at anyone else other than Trent Alexander-Arnold'
Keifer MacDonald: When talking about who could become the next great Liverpool captain once the curtain is drawn on Jordan Henderson's time at Anfield, truth be told it's difficult to look at anyone else other than Trent Alexander-Arnold.
As mentioned by both Theo and Sean, Alexander-Arnold has had all the hallmarks of a future Reds captain since he made his debut in the autumn of 2016, and even before that if you listen to the tales of Pep Lijnders.
The 24-year-old was introduced into the Reds' five-man leadership group after its reconstruction in the summer of 2021 and the departure of vice-captain James Milner earlier this summer will also see the defender have his status elevated as he moves to within touching distance of the armband.
Of course, Jurgen Klopp is blessed with a string of international captains in his ranks, with Andy Robertson one of those tasked with such duties when he heads north of the border. While Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah also lead their nations.
Back on Merseyside, meanwhile, Alisson Becker, albeit not on a full-time basis, has previous experience sporting the armband in the absence of Henderson, Van Dijk and previously Milner.
Both Robertson and Alisson are two players who would indeed make great captains, but with Scotsman heading towards the twilight stages of his time at Anfield, it seems unlikely that he would be given the nod ahead of Alexander-Arnold.
Meanwhile, despite turning 31 later this year, Alisson could be another outside option for Klopp to consider in the years ahead. Although it would take a monumental effort to clutch the holy grail away from the captain-in-waiting in Liverpool's No.66.
