Liverpool have confirmed that England midfielder Jordan Henderson is their new club captain.
Henderson, 25, takes the armband after Steven Gerrard ended his 17-year Anfield first-team career in May and joined Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy.
It means that Henderson will lead the club on their preseason tour of the Far East and Australia, for which they will fly out on Sunday.
The midfielder was appointed as vice-captain last September, standing in as the team's leader on several occasions when Gerrard was out of the team.
Henderson told Liverpool's website: "I'm absolutely delighted and proud. It is a great honour and a huge privilege to be named as the captain of this football club.
"When Steven wasn't in the team last season, I tried to do the best I could when I stepped in and took the armband. Now I'll be looking to carry that on and continue to grow as a captain.
"I'll look to give my best all of the time, put the team firmly first and try to give them -- or help them with -- whatever they need from me."
#LFC can confirm that Jordan Henderson has today been officially appointed captain of Liverpool Football Club. pic.twitter.com/I37slsNqaS
- Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 10, 2015
Henderson was widely tipped to take over the captaincy on a permanent basis when Gerrard announced in January that he would be leaving Liverpool.
Manager Brendan Rodgers insisted repeatedly over the second half of last season that he had yet to decide who would take on the role.
But Rodgers, having now confirmed his new captain, believes that Henderson is the right man for the job.
The manager said: "Jordan is someone who leads through example -- through his actions, attitude and application. He shows total commitment to the game and is a role model professional.
"He is also greatly respectful of the great traditions associated with being Liverpool captain and the responsibilities that come with it.
"He has been blessed to learn first-hand from one of the greatest the club has ever had, in Steven Gerrard.
"Jordan has grown as a person and as a player since arriving at Liverpool and is ready to take up this challenge. He will be his own person, with his own style of leadership and his own ideas and methods."
Henderson joined Liverpool from Sunderland in 2011, but struggled during his first season and almost left the club.
Rodgers offered him the chance to move to Fulham soon after taking charge at Anfield in 2012, but the midfielder opted to stay and fight for a regular place.
He established himself as a key figure in Liverpool's midfield, and committed his long-term future to the club by signing a five-year contract in April.