Wednesday 8 July 2015 12:38, UK
After James Milner revealed he hopes to play in central midfield at Liverpool, Nick Wright examines whether the former Manchester City man can deliver in the absence of club legend Steven Gerrard…
James Milner’s comments on his reasons for joining Liverpool were revealing. “I want to play football and play more centrally if I can - and that's where the manager said he sees me playing,” he said. “What he said to me made me want to come and play for him straight away.”
After four years as Manchester City’s utility man, Milner has arrived at Liverpool with the promise of a central role in their plans. Filling the Steven Gerrard-shaped hole in the Reds’ midfield while wearing their iconic No 7 shirt ensures expectation will weigh heavily on Milner’s shoulders, but it is easy to see why his name was at the top of Brendan Rodgers’ summer wish list.
Milner has been joined at Liverpool by the likes of Danny Ings, Roberto Firmino and Nathaniel Clyne since signing on a Bosman transfer from City at the start of June, but there is reason to believe his arrival could be the most important yet in their rapidly-executed summer recruitment drive.
The 29-year-old is chiefly known for his committed and industrious playing style, and while there is a lot more to Milner than mere work-rate, it is certainly a good place to start when examining his potential value to Liverpool as they prepare for life after Gerrard.
Dynamism
Milner’s remarkable dynamism is illustrated by Opta’s data for miles covered per 90 minutes last season. His average of 7.27 was only bettered by Burnley’s George Boyd (7.49) and Arsenal’s Mathieu Flamini (7.29) in the Premier League, something which will have been noted by Rodgers.
The Liverpool manager demands high intensity pressing from his players, and Milner would give them a huge injection of energy in a vital area of the pitch if, as expected, he is used alongside the similarly tireless Jordan Henderson ahead of a holding midfielder in the centre.
Indeed, the EA Player Performance Index shows Milner made 1,474 high-intensity sprints last season, 521 more than Gerrard despite playing 494 fewer minutes than Liverpool’s fading captain.
But that only scratches the surface of what Milner can offer his new side. The England international is often unfairly pigeonholed as a workhorse, but he won four major trophies in as many years at City and his broad range of strengths was not lost on manager Pellegrini – who fought to tie him to a new contract before his departure from the Etihad Stadium.
“Find me a more complete English player,” the City manager told the Guardian last season. “There are players who are better technically, yes. Quicker players, yes. Players who head better, yes. But show me one who does all the things Milner does well. There isn’t one.”
City lost just two of the 18 matches Milner started in 2014/15 compared to five of the 20 he didn’t, and his value to the side was further highlighted by a run of two goals and an assist in his final three games for the club.
Creative
His total of five Premier League goals last season was four lower than Gerrard’s, but the veteran’s tally was swelled by four penalties, and Milner only started 18 games compared to Gerrard’s 25.
Milner was also far more effective in a creative sense. He provided seven assists to Gerrard’s one – putting him level with David Silva and Raheem Sterling, two of the Premier League’s most highly-regarded creators. Feeding Sergio Aguero is far more rewarding than feeding a misfiring Mario Balotelli, of course, but Milner also fashioned chances at a rate of one every 33.5 minutes compared to Gerrard’s average of one every 43 minutes.
The numbers bode well for Liverpool, but Gerrard was a long way from his majestic best in his final season at Anfield, which begs the question: can Milner deliver a similar contribution to Gerrard in his earlier years? Indeed, as recently as 2013/14 the iconic midfielder contributed 13 goals and 13 assists as the Reds fell just short of the title.
All-rounder
Milner will never match Gerrard’s legendary status on Merseyside, but a look back to his 2009/10 season with Aston Villa provides a tantalising glimpse of what he is capable of when given an extended run in central midfield.
Positioned just ahead of the defensively-minded Stylian Petrov by Martin O’Neill, Milner was outstanding throughout the campaign as Villa finished sixth in the Premier League, reached the final of the League Cup and the semi-final of the FA Cup.
Milner excelled as an all-action all-rounder combining energy with end product in the heart of their midfield. He finished an exhilarating campaign with seven league goals and 12 assists and was named PFA Young Player of the Year before City swooped in to take him to the Etihad.
It was the only season of Milner’s career in which he has held down a central midfield role – and it is no coincidence that it remains his best yet. Milner proved a valuable addition for City, but his versatility saw him shunted around from full-back to winger to centre-forward and he leaves the club with a sense of unfulfilled potential.
At Liverpool, he will get the chance to pick up where he left off at Aston Villa. Milner may not possess Gerrard’s match-winning individuality or inspirational qualities, but he certainly represents an upgrade on the 35-year-old after the disappointment of last season – and his running stats suggest he is still at the peak of his powers.
But who better to give their verdict than Gerrard himself? “He’s a proven winner,” he said last month. “I think he’s still hungry. I know he’s a very fit boy, very professional and he won’t let anyone down.”
Replacing Gerrard is an impossible task, but Milner can at least help Liverpool move on if he is given centre stage.
