Liverpool midfielder James Milner has played alongside arguably two of the most iconic centre-backs in the Premier League and admitted that it is difficult to make a pick between them.
Milner was given an almost impossible task to pick between a currently colossal at Liverpool and a Manchester City legend. The 34-year-old former England midfielder revealed that Virgil van Dijk is more of “a Rolls Royce” of a defender while former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany was more of an “unbelievable leader”.
Having played in the English top-flight for more than 17 years, Milner is well placed to make a judgement on two of the most commanding centre-halves that have graced the Premier League in the modern era. Milner enjoyed title success alongside Kompany during his time with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, while a Champions League triumph at Liverpool followed last year in June with Van Dijk playing a monumental figure for the Reds.
While speaking to Sky Sports, Milner explained the differences between the two centre backs but couldn’t pick one over the other. The former Manchester City star spoke about Vincent Kompany at first explain how the Belgian was an unbelievable leader of the pack, “Vinny – unbelievable player. How he went about his business, he struggled with injuries but the number of injuries you saw him play through as well which nobody would have ever known, was incredible.”
Milner then went on to explain characteristics of the Dutch centre back Vigil Van Dijk and his ability to get into the right positions, “Virgil is probably a bit different to that. Maybe a bit more of a Rolls Royce, if you like, and he doesn’t seem to make too many tackles. He gets in the right spot and moves the ball away.”
