“Needs looking after”- James Milner urges Klopp to manage 30-year-old superstar’s playing time

James Milner urges Jurgen Klopp to manage Virgil van Dijk’s gametime at Liverpool

According to Liverpool Echo, James Milner has urged their manager, Jurgen Klopp to suitably manage star defender Virgil van Dijk’s gametime at Liverpool no matter how ‘angry’ he gets.

Liverpool struggled with a host of injuries to key players last season. Their £75million defender struggled with an anterior cruciate ligament against Everton in October 2020.

That injury saw the 30-year-old Netherlands international miss the entire season as Liverpool were left wanting at the back with injuries to the other key central defenders as well.

Milner has labelled the Dutch defender as ‘Superman’ after his recovery. that being said he also stated that the Dutch defender’s playing time will have to be monitored. The veteran midfielder believes that this should be done no matter how ‘angry’ the 30-year-old defender gets.

Milner went on to say

“To do what he has done since he’s been back is incredible. It shows what a good player he is, what a mentality he has. But he needs looking after as well, no matter how angry he gets at being left out of the team.”

James Milner suggests that the necessary rotation will be required so that the players can be eased into the team. Van Dijk started the 4 Premier League games but was left on the bench in their 3-2 victory over AC Milan in the UCL.

Liverpool will take on Norwich in the Carabao Cup next and a host of fringe players could get an opportunity. Teenager Harvey Elliot also suffered a horrendous injury this season in the match against Leeds United.

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With their past history of injury troubles, Liverpool could pivot towards caution and the 35-year-old midfielder has called for suitable rotation to protect the players in the squad.