OPINION
Liverpool’s attacking talent were undoubtedly the talking point of yesterday’s win over West Ham United, as they ran riot in a 4-0 thumping.
However, one player who consistently goes under the radar for the Reds is central midfielder James Milner, who has arguably been massively under-rated during his time on Merseyside.
He may be 32-years-old, but the club mainstay is a man for all seasons and positions, and has made a strong case for being instated as a first team regular under Jurgen Klopp ahead of new signing Fabinho, who is on £130,000 a week [Spotrac].
The former England international may have believed that his place in the midfield line-up was under threat due to the arrival from Monaco, but there is no reason to be worried based on his assured display against the Hammers.
During the match, he made more accurate passes than anyone other Liverpool player – 95 – and brilliantly set-up Sadio Mane who netted the side’s second just before half-time.
The Reds would be lost without Milner’s presence in the middle of the park, and this is something Klopp must consider when selecting his teams for the remainder of the season.
His confident display yesterday afternoon has obviously given the manager some food for thought.
As he demonstrated last season, he works hard for the team and ensures he covers a lot of ground in the process – showing his skills off the ball as well as on.
He is the unsung hero of the Liverpool team and thoroughly deserves to be on the team sheet every week, and Klopp would be mad not to appreciate the impact he has on games such as this one.
That is not to say Fabinho is not a talented midfielder in his own right – he is. Milner is just that bit ahead of him at the moment, and Liverpool need his vast experience in such an important season.
