Jurgen Klopp confirms Liverpool starter for Leicester City clash

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Virgil van Dijk will start for Liverpool when they face Leicester City today (10.00 BST).

The Reds meet the Foxes in their first pre-season clash during the trip to Singapore.

Van Dijk has worn the captain’s armband in Liverpool’s previous summer friendlies against Karlsruher and Greuther Furth after Jordan Henderson left the Germany training camp amid interest from Al-Ettifaq. And now Henderson has officially departed Anfield for Saudi Arabia, a new captain needs to be appointed.

Klopp has admitted he’s decided on who will take over as skipper - but will only make the news public once he’s told his players.

The Liverpool manager said: “That has nothing to do with the general captaincy. Virgil will start the game tomorrow, if nothing happens in training, Virgil will [be] captain of the team tomorrow. I know already my decision but the general thing is I have to tell it first to the players before I speak in public about it.

“But it was like this, I didn't expect to have that situation a few weeks ago that I have to think about it. So, that's it pretty much. But in general the games so far, I didn't think before the games about that. In half-time we have easy rules there. Virg was number three last year, so that's why he wears it when he starts. And in the second half, after that it is who is longest in the club and I think it was most of the time Joe Gomez, if I'm right. So, that's it.

“It's an important decision – [an] even more important decision is the general leadership group. Yes, it's a big change for us, big characters left the club this summer but that's how it is. Things have to change at one point, it's always clear. You cannot keep things going just because you don't want to have any kind of changes or development or whatever. Now we have it and now we will have to use it. That's exactly the plan. I'm really positive about that. I can see a lot of positive signs in training, in the games as well – mostly in training, we train much more often than we play obviously. So, the boys understand the situation and I'm really happy about that.”