Goalkeeper Alisson has been named one of Liverpool’s captains for the current season, but the likelihood of him wearing the armband during matches is low. The information was detailed by the club’s new coach, Andoni Iraola, in a press conference held on August 21, 2026. Virgil van Dijk remains the team’s main captain.
Andoni Iraola confirmed the selection of captains: Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, Joe Gomez and Szoboszlai. The coach, however, clarified directly to the Brazilian goalkeeper that the use of the armband would not be viable due to recent regulations. According to Iraola, the position of goalkeeper imposes major restrictions on performing the role of captain on the field.
Alisson Becker’s rise to Liverpool’s captaincy ranks followed the transfer of left-back Andy Robertson to Tottenham. The difficulty arises from a rule implemented in March 2025, which only allows captains to dialogue with the referee. As Alisson remains mostly within the penalty area, constant communication with the referee becomes a challenge.
“If something happens in the opponent’s area, the referee would need to explain everything to the captain, all the decisions,” said Iraola. The coach made a point of expressing his desire for Alisson to feel valued. He mentioned the need to discuss the armband situation with the athlete, pointing out the disadvantages of having a goalkeeper as captain on the field.
Last season, Alisson was third on Liverpool’s list of captains, and has now been promoted to vice-captain. The Brazilian goalkeeper joined the English club in the 2018/19 season. Since then, he has participated in 333 official matches for the team, accumulating a total of seven trophies, including two Premier Leagues, two English League Cups, one FA Cup, one Champions League and one Club World Cup.
The Liverpool team will play its first match in the 2026/27 Premier League at St. James Park, facing Newcastle on August 23, 2026. In the previous season, the team where Alisson plays finished the English Championship in fifth place.
