James Milner experience
At 36 years of age, James Milner is the most experienced player in the Liverpool squad. He boasts the most winners’ medal, having added another FA Cup to his collection at the weekend.
But while most players of his age start to slow down, the Reds’ vice-captain is coming to the fore when it really matters. Following an impressive substitute appearance at Wembley, the veteran was given the armband as Jurgen Klopp made nine changes to his side that faced Southampton on Tuesday.
Asked to play in an unfamiliar deeper midfield role, in between youngsters Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, in the absence of the injured Fabinho and with Jordan Henderson rested, his role at St. Mary’s was always going to be a crucial one. And once again, at the business end of the season, he stood up and delivered.
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Pressing high in midfield, he created a number of chances from this deeper role with his total of six chances created the highest of the game. Such energy to win the ball back even granted him two shooting opportunities as he continues in vain to try and close a goalscoring drought dating back to December 2019.
No player could rival his 120 touches and he boasted an 93% passing success rate, completing 83 of his 89 passses. As the Reds fought back from falling behind to Nathan Redmond’s stunner, he was at the centre of everything.
And then he showed the other side of his game when asked to switch to right-back following Joe Gomez’s injury. Winning all four of his tackles, such a tally was the highest in the game.
Remind yourself that this is a 36-year-old who had been expected to leave the club at the end of his contract this summer. On this form, Liverpool simply cannot let that happen.
His leadership behind the scenes at Anfield is clear for all to see, but he continues to perform to the highest of standards whenever called upon at a time when, in search of an unprecedented quadruple, the stakes have never been higher.
If this is to be the final weeks of Milner’s Liverpool career, he is ending them in style. Two domestic cups down, he’ll hope a second Champions League win can at least make it a treble.
Then there’s the small matter of a final day showdown for the Premier League title as the Reds host Wolves while the midfielder’s former club Man City, host Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa - the man Milner replaced in the Liverpool engine room when first joining the club in 2015.
When the legendary Reds skipper was 36, he found himself playing in the MLS for La Galaxy and coming to the end of his career. In contrast, on this evidence Milner has plenty more left to give. He’s no Gerrard but, taking his place in this greatest of Liverpool sides, is achieving something his predecessor could only dream of.
In January the gap between the Reds and City was 14 points. Now we go into the final day with it standing at just one and Milner’s experience has been vital to that turnaround, chasing down his former club.
Klopp will no doubt be keen for his vice-captain to stay put and will look to persuade FSG to hand the veteran a new deal in the summer. But at the very least, with his future uncertain, Milner is certainly proving there’s truth in one famous quote.
“Always leave them wanting more.”
A glimpse into the future
While Milner might be enjoying the latter seasons of his career, his two midfield partners at St. Mary’s are at the beginning. Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott will have every right to have been frustrated by their limited starting opportunities this season, but they were both given a chance to impress as Liverpool fans were given a glimpse into the future.
Jones was handed his 10th Premier League start of the season against Southampton, while his fellow England Under-21s international was making his first league start since suffering a dislocated ankle against Leeds United back in September. Both impressed as Liverpool dominated possession, linking up well with their team-mates and looking to make things happen in the final third.
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Both were also visibly frustrated when passes didn’t come off and shots went wayward. Neither are the finished article but, aged 21 and 19, have long careers ahead of them.
With five substitutions across the board next season, both will benefit from this rule change and inevitably play more. And as Milner, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara continue to age, the ball is in their court to prove themselves to Klopp as ready-made successors.
It will be a big pre-season for the pair as they look to stake their claim. Understandably, with a quadruple up for grabs, experience carries weight at their expense at the business end of the season. But that experience will follow and there is plenty more to come from the young pair.
Elliott and Jones started together in midfield for the first time in the Premier League on Tuesday night. Rest assured, it will not be the last.
Timely return as injuries build-up
By making nine changes from the side that beat Chelsea on penalties in the FA Cup final, it is clear what Jurgen Klopp’s priority is for the final week of the Premier League season. After losing Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to injury, it’s about getting to the Champions League final in Paris with the rest of his squad in one piece.
Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold were left out for the trip to Southampton altogether as the Liverpool manager looked to rest tired legs after 120 minutes at Wembley. Such is the faith in the strongest squad of his career, he’d have had no doubts that his XI selected would still find a way to win at St. Mary’s.
And sure enough they did as goals from Takumi Minamino and Joel Matip saw the Reds take the Premier League title-race to the last day of the season, having closed the gap to Man City to just one point. Yet it wasn’t without another injury setback.
Joe Gomez started at right-back in place of Alexander-Arnold but limped off shortly before the interval after a coming-together with Kyle Walker-Peters. Belatedly getting to his feet, his team-mates were inevitably concerned as he slowly walked off, giving his past when it comes to serious injuries. As a result, it was no surprise to see him not return for the second half.
Jordan Henderson came on in his place with James Milner switching to right-back, as Klopp was reluctantly forced to ask his captain to give him another 45 minutes. But having successfully navigated the second half of the season with relatively few injuries, the numbers are slowly starting to stack up again at the worst possible time.
Liverpool are still confident that Fabinho, Salah and Van Dijk will be fit for the Champions League final, though brought back physio Christopher Rohrbeck to aid with their respective recoveries and rehabilitation ahead of the trip to Paris next month. Now Gomez might have to join his group too.
And while, unlike the trio, the England international would be highly unlikely to start in Paris, a long campaign is inevitably catching up with the Reds. Alas, the price of success.
Next up it’s Wolves at home with Klopp unable to rest players ahead of the Champions League final, knowing that if Man City drop points, a win would crown Liverpool Premier League champions. Such a prospect might seem unlikely at this time, and while the German will be crossing his fingers for the unlikely, he’ll be hoping even more that his squad avoid anymore injuries ahead of their Champions League final showdown.
