Liverpool star Milner assesses Man Utd amid title battle

Liverpool vice-captain James Milner has admitted that Manchester United are currently the most in form Premier League side.

Liverpool are looking to retain the title but the race looks set to be closer than it was last season, with United hot on their heels, three points behind them with a game in hand.

MAILBOX: Why Lingard would be perfect for Mourinho at Spurs

Asked about Liverpool being top of the table, Milner told the club’s official website: “I think it’s a positive but it seems to be at this moment in time that nobody wants to take it by the scruff of the neck.

“We’ve dropped points, everyone seems to be dropping points. United have had a good run and they’re probably the only team who are putting a run together.

“It’s important that we need to kick on now and try to get a few three-pointers. But the world is in a very strange place at the moment and it’s the same in football.

“Everybody’s lives are upside down, it’s tough mentally for everybody and it’s the same in football.

“Hopefully we can get out of this the other side and it’s the same with football – we just need to keep plugging away.

“It is different, it’s different times and that time where you maybe need the crowd to give you that lift and get it over the line. That might’ve happened on another day. But it’s where we are and we need to keep working hard.

“As you can see, we’ve given absolutely everything. The boys are doing well.

“The amount of minutes some of the lads have played, it’s nice to see a few of the boys getting back – obviously Thiago getting on today and showing his quality.

“We’ll stick together, we’ll keep plugging away and we just need to get that final piece of the puzzle right. Like I say, I thought it was a good performance tonight, we just needed that final bit to get the goals.

“If we keep playing like that, hopefully we can go on a run and put some more points on the board.”