James Milner: The antidote to Liverpool’s midfield muddle

Matt Stead

“The world thinks improving is only about bringing in new players. Nobody thinks that the players we already have will make the next step, which is also a nice idea.”

Jurgen Klopp is far from immune to the rather modern trend of problem-solving through spending. This is a manager who identified a weakness in his Liverpool side and spent a world-record fee on a defender in an attempt to rectify it. The German is not unsusceptible to spotting a scratch on his car and reacting by simply buying the latest model.

But when offered the option of working with the tools he has at his disposal, Klopp often takes it. Of the nine players to feature in more than 60 of his 100 Premier League games as Liverpool manager, the German brought in just one. And few would rank Georginio Wijnaldum as either his best or most important Anfield signing.

The Dutchman’s showing at Selhurst Park on Saturday did nothing to change that. Wijnaldum was ineffective against Crystal Palace, offering little in defence or attack. He was bypassed as Liverpool looked to pass through the lines with Virgil van Dijk, and Palace launched long balls to Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha. Wijnaldum was the piggy in the middle, constantly chasing the ball but rarely getting a touch.

His removal in the 64th minute was a mercy substitution, a necessary sacrifice as Liverpool looked to build on Sadio Mane’s second-half equaliser. But Wijnaldum was not alone in his futility. Jordan Henderson is often unfairly derided, and yet this was a prime example of his limitations. He was hardly alone in failing to offer Liverpool inspiration when Palace were in the ascendancy, but the accusations against him carry a greater weight due to his role as captain.

Liverpool’s three starting central midfielders created four chances; James Milner was responsible for each of them. Liverpool’s three starting central midfielders completed three tackles; Milner accounted for two of them. Liverpool’s three starting central midfielders provided one assist when they looked incapable of breaching a resolute Palace defence; Milner’s excellent build-up play laid the foundation for Mane’s strike.

In the midfield muddle, Milner was the antidote. He took more risks with his passing, showed more endeavour in his approach. It was far from the perfect performance, and one misplaced pass almost saw Benteke put Palace in front once more. But this was the archetypal seven-out-of-ten performance from the archetypal seven-out-of-ten player.

That has often been used as a stick with which to beat Milner, and often by this site and this writer. But there is plenty to be said for a player who almost guarantees such consistency. An average display with one notable positive and one obvious but unpunished negative far outweighs two non-performances from those around him.

Milner encapsulates Klopp’s constant desire to “make the next step” with his existing players. Roberto Firmino (91) is the only player to feature in more of the German’s 100 Premier League games than the erstwhile left-back (83). It would be easy to suggest that Milner’s scope for improvement was minimal at the age of 32, but he has developed into one of his manager’s most trusted lieutenants. He has made the transition from central midfielder to left-back and back again, and is a better all-round player for it.

Klopp’s declaration that Liverpool “have a new midfield player” was derided back in August, the German unveiling Milner to a support expecting expensive signings. But as the manager will attest, the transfer market is not the only window for improvement.

Matt Stead