Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool have different plans for veteran James Milner
The level of commitment 37-year-old James Milner shows on the pitch is absolutely top-class and Liverpool have a true professional on their hands. Even though his legs are not as fast as his mind and the Reds certainly need to replace him in the long term, there is an absolute necessity for such kinds of players in every football club.
The primarily central midfielder has played every possible outfield position for the Reds except for centre-back. The player, at right-back, kept 22-year-old Phil Foden silent when Liverpool took on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup not so long ago, and also played that exact role when the Reds played Wolves in the FA Cup.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp spoke about the player and his future at the club. Milly’s contract at the Reds lasts until the end of the current campaign (Transfermarkt).
Here is what Klopp spoke about when talking about Milner via Liverpool Echo:
“We have different plans for Milly, but Milly wants to keep playing,””And when you see him play the other night (against Wolves), I think everyone understands that. You can’t judge him because of his age or whatever.”
“He is 37, but doesn’t look a day like this. When he is in training, he is there, full throttle. He is an incredibly important player and you saw this on the pitch as well. It is not that Milly expects to play 64 games a season, but in 64 games a season Milly could be incredibly important.”
Despite his age, Milner could still be a valuable contributor to Liverpool, particularly in terms of his experience and leadership. He is a veteran player who has a wealth of knowledge and has been through many different situations on the field.
Milner and the Reds
However, Liverpool also needs to be aware of the long-term interests of the club and not rely too heavily on Milner as they have done this season because of the poor form of the rest of the midfielders. He is an excellent squad player, but at 37, you cannot expect him to deliver impacting performances. Not everyone is a Thiago Silva, and somehow, if the Reds could keep him at the club, and at the same time free up space for a new player, that would be ideal.
A coaching role for the player or something of that nature will be perfect as he will still be associated with the Reds and contribute to the best of his abilities.
Furthermore, Liverpool need to be aware that there are other teams in the league who are constantly strengthening their squad and if they are not careful, they will get left behind. The Reds need to be proactive and look for new talents that can help the team in the long run. We have Jude Bellingham on our radar, but speculation takes us nowhere, does it?
More Liverpool News:
- Liverpool plan on late January swoop for Wolves’ captain Ruben Neves
- Liverpool show interest in Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters
- Jurgen Klopp reveals he will “not leave” Liverpool dugout; hints at other changes
In conclusion, while James Milner has been a valuable player for Liverpool, the club needs to look beyond him in order to address their current poor form and plan for the future.
