Liverpool’s players voted for Virgil van Dijk to captain against Red Star Belgrade.
Van Dijk has become a prominent figure for last season’s Champions League finalists since completing a £75 million move from Southampton in January.
And the defender’s popularity was reflected ahead of Wednesday’s 4-0 win over the Serbian champions which restored the Reds’ place as leaders of Group C.
Jordan Henderson’s injury and the demotion of vice-captain James Milner to the substitutes’ bench forced Jurgen Klopp to select a stand-in skipper for the match.
The Liverpool manager has revealed that Van Dijk was handed the armband, a role he holds at international level with Holland, as the club’s third-choice leader.
“It was not my decision. That was the players’ decision,” said Klopp.
“I decided Hendo and Milly would stay (captain and vice-captain).
“That was logical and it would have been like that if we had voted, and then I said for the next two, the players can vote.
“And now we have the two Dutch guys. The team decided no.3 and 4 would be Virgil and Gini Wijnaldum.
“Somebody would have told me as a German that two Dutch guys would have such an important role in my life.”