CM, RM, LM, CDM, RW, LW, LB, RB!
This is the list of all the positions James Milner has played for Liverpool. And to justify his importance in the squad, Klopp once said that you can make a team of 11 James Milner and can still remain impressive. And boy how truthful the statement is. It’s hard to imagine what Milner can do even at the age of 32, where most players opt for a move to the States or to the cash rich Chinese League.
Milner’s versatility is the most impressive aspect of his game. Running up and down the field throughout the game, making tackles after tackles, interceptions after interceptions, connecting the defence with attack, giving killer passes and converting penalties whenever asked to. Milner is not just reliable in defence but equally impressive in attack as well.
The 32 year old provided 9 assists in Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final last season, most by any player in a single season. This comes a long way to show the influence of Milner on the field. If you compare him with some of the great midfielders to ever grace the game, you won’t find him with that elegance, that flare, that class; but that’s what separate him from the others. Milner always go under the limelight, doing his same old-school stuff game and game out.
There was no hype around the transfer of James Milner and there is certainly next to no hype around him as well. Milner was signed for free, but his impact on this Liverpool squad is priceless. Underrated? Certainly! The praise, applauds, glam always belongs to that fab front but the time has come for James Milner to move out of the shadows of his teammates and be his own glorious image. Man City did not renew his contract thinking he was surplus to requirements. But on Sunday, they face the man and his team once again, but this time they are stronger than ever. And If Milner puts up a yet another midfield masterpiece, he may turn out to be the man to give City and the entire premier league a statement that he is indeed the key to Liverpool’s dream!
