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IF ONE PLAYER, in particular, epitomises how Jurgen Klopp has rejuvenated Liverpool, James Milner is surely the perfect example.
The 30-year-old arrived at the Reds on a free transfer with expectations set quite high.
Milner was immediately installed as vice-captain and reportedly became one of the highest-paid players at the club.
Yet not everything went according to plan straight away. Liverpool suffered a poor run of form that cost Brendan Rodgers his job. And as an experienced player and one of the acquisitions who was supposed to change the club for the better, Milner attracted his fair share of criticism owing to these initial underwhelming results.
There were suggestions that himself and Jordan Henderson were playing “too similar” roles in midfield. Former player Danny Murphy also suggested back in December that Milner was partly to blame for his side’s lack of creativity and overly defensive-minded approach.
Yet in recent times, Klopp has helped turn Milner into a key player for the Reds.
In 2016, the former City utility player now has more assists than any other Premier League player, with 11, in addition to five goals in all competitions this season — equalling his best tally since the 2009-10 campaign with Villa, which ultimately earned him a reported £26 million move to City. He has been particularly impressive in recent weeks, assisting seven goals in his last four appearances.
Moreover, Milner is symptomatic of how Klopp has turned Liverpool around of late — the club have lost just one of their past 15 matches in all competitions, as well as earning four wins on the bounce, including an incredible 4-3 defeat of an imperious Dortmund side in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Last night, Milner epitomised his and Liverpool’s growing confidence with two assists in the emphatic 4-0 defeat of Everton, including an inch-perfect cross for Origi’s opener.
Afterwards, the England international spoke in glowing terms of how Klopp has transformed the club’s fortunes, after taking over from Rodgers in October.
“We seem to be in the rhythm at the moment,” the England international told Sky Sports.
“You need a full squad and we have got a quality squad of players, a young squad as well but when the younger guys have come in they have done brilliantly as well.
“There’s a lot of competition for places and that’s what you need.
The manager’s style is a bit more second nature than it was a few months ago, we know how he wants to play and everyone is on the same page. I think you can see that in the performances.”
At 30, he is arguably close to the peak of his career, though recent performances have suggested Milner has plenty of mileage left in the tank.
With rumours that Jordan Henderson could be offloaded in the summer, the club may need a new captain and leader to guide them through this crucial transitional phase. Milner, if his current form is anything to go by, looks to be the perfect prospective candidate and could become a cornerstone of the club in the way the likes of Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard were before him.
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