A crucial decision made by Jurgen Klopp is set to come to fruition 12 months later as his Liverpool squad struggles with injuries.
The German decided to increase his on-field player committee from four to six in a bid to create more captains on the field in the wake of the trouble-hit 2020-21 season.
And with club skipper Jordan Henderson injured, vice-captain James Milner not an automatic selection and Virgil van Dijk facing his own challenges, supporters could see other members of the expanded committee group wearing the armband in the coming weeks.
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The original foursome of Henderson, Milner, Van Dijk and Gini Wijnaldum was broken up when the latter departed at the end of his contract to join Paris Saint-Germain. It was at this point that Klopp added Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Alisson Becker to the group, following a vote.
Speaking in the early stages of last season, Klopp said: "We had three captains in Hendo, Milly, Virg and the players voted for another three. So that was won by Trent, Robbo and Alisson Becker.
"It was just that from time to time last year with the amount of injuries we had, we had no-one available from the players' committee out on the pitch. So that is why I decided to increase the group to six."
Fast forward 12 months and Liverpool find themselves in another injury pickle of sorts. Henderson is currently joined on the treatment table by fellow midfielders Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones, leaving the Reds short on experience in the engine room.
Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip and Diogo Jota have only just returned to action and the wait goes on for Ibrahima Konate, Caoimhín Kelleher and latterly Calvin Ramsay, who is nearing fitness.
The high number of injuries has taken its toll on the start of Liverpool's new season. The Reds have won only two of their first six Premier League matches and were given a 4-1 hiding by Napoli in their first Champions League Group Stage match on Wednesday evening.
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