Nearly five years have passed since James Milner joined Liverpool FC on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract with Manchester City FC. Many football pundits and even the Reds fans were sceptical about the move which took place on 4th June 2015.
Very few doubted Milner’s ability, with the player having impressed in the English football leagues since the age of 16 years when he made his debut for his boyhood club Leeds United and became the second-youngest player to make his debut in the English Premier League.
Subsequent spells at Newcastle United and Aston Villa FC further enhanced Milner’s reputation as a wide midfielder and the player was soon rewarded with the prestigious PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2009–10 season. Milner soon earned a £26 million transfer to Manchester City FC, who were slowly asserting dominance in the Premier League through their purchases of talented players worldwide. The next five seasons at Manchester saw James Milner becoming a two-time Premier League champion, among a host of other trophies and personal honours. However, the energetic England international could not get his hands on the coveted Champions League trophy during his time at Manchester City FC.
A move to Liverpool came through when then Reds manager Brendan Rodgers having initiated discussions with Milner’s representatives over a free transfer upon the player’s contract at Manchester City FC coming to an end. Upon signing for the Merseyside club, Milner was soon named as the vice-captain of the Liverpool FC squad due to his considerable playing experience and leadership traits. His first season at the club saw him featuring in the Reds midfield under Rodgers. However, Rodgers was soon sacked upon the Reds poor run of form which saw them sit 10th in the Premier League table. The charismatic German coach Jurgen Klopp was brought in to revive Liverpool FC’s fortunes, and the team reached the finals of both the English League Cup and the UEFA Europa League, losing both the matches.
The 2016-17 season saw a massive change in Milner’s role in the Reds squad. Upon the poor run of form by left-back Alberto Moreno, Klopp considered fielding Milner in that position due to his tackling ability and his excellent crossing. Milner soon cemented his position in the team’s lineup with an impressive run of performances as a left-back, a place that was very new for him to play in. He put in an excellent showing as a left-back and displayed his versatility as a football player to pundits and fans alike. The 2017-18 season was a historic one for Milner in the Reds shirt. He broke the record for most assists in a UEFA Champions League campaign with nine assists to his name and helping the Reds reach their first Champions League final since 2007. Despite losing 3-1 to Real Madrid in the final, Milner garnered universal praise for his performances during the season and switched back and forth between the central midfield as well as the left-back position.
In December 2018, Milner became the second-youngest player after Gareth Barry to appear in 500 Premier League matches. A year later, Milner’s dream objective on joining Liverpool finally became a reality when he got his hands on the Champions League trophy in Madrid upon the Reds defeating Tottenham Hotspurs in the tense final match of the campaign. The same year saw the Reds winning the UEFA Super Cup as well as the FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first English side to win the historic International Treble. Prior to the start of the Club World Cup in Qatar, Milner signed a contract extension with the Reds which will see him stay at Merseyside until 2022.
James Milner has become a Liverpool FC fan-favorite in no time. His unmatched ability and hard work on the pitch has been recognized by the Reds supporter, who adore him to great lengths. Moreover, in recent seasons, many media publications have noted how underrated Milner is as a player and how he does not command the same level of respect given to many of his counterparts despite winning every possible laurel in English football. Jurgen Klopp has stated the amount of respect he has for Milner, touting him to be the fittest person in the Liverpool FC squad despite his age of 34 years.
Milner’s fitness has been considered as a significant reason behind him performing exceedingly well on the football pitch. The player is known to follow a rigorous fitness regime, even during the offseason, to prevent injuries from curtailing his career. Moreover, he has had a tremendous impact on the youth Liverpool FC players, with his motivation inducing the Reds youngers to perform better. Milner has always been known to put the team first before his personal needs, with the player having stated that he did not like the idea of him playing the left-back position. However, he had to do so due to his team requiring him to function in that role at that moment and for his responsibility as the vice-captain of the Reds.
James Milner will be considered as one of the Liverpool FC greats due to his wonderful performances in the Reds shirt as well as the impact he has had as a professional on the squad. He never fails to make the most of his social media presence, with him and fellow teammate Andy Robertson engaging in fun banter on Instagram and Twitter. Milner arrived in Liverpool for free. However, the Reds supporters will always cherish memories worth millions of their Mr. Reliable.
