2018/19 Season Report Card - James Milner

He’s great. I love him. This is going to be a difficult one to do though because Milner is one of the trickiest ones to evaluate.

Virtually every performance from him is the same. There are no wild fluctuations in form, no highs or lows, he’s just basically the same every time he steps onto the field.

He always makes the right decisions, he crosses well, he passes well, he works his socks off, he’s got great technique and he’s a leader and an example to everyone in the squad. He’s been great in midfield and when he’s needed to play full back he’s been great there too.

He's Big Games James, the man you can count on when the pressure is at's highest. Just look at how many pressure penalties he's converted. He's the epitome of Klopp's 'Mentality Monsters'.

Klopp even revealed that Milner gives a team talk before every game, whether he’s playing or not. The importance of Milner to this squad is probably much greater than anyone outside of the dressing room realises. In a group where most are relatively young and prior to this season hadn’t tasted much success, Milner has been there and done it all. His experience and professionalism raises the level of everyone else.

I was happiest for Hendo that we won something. I was made up for Klopp as well, but Milner is right up there too. I was desperate for him to win something with us. He's got medals and he's had a great career, but for his Anfield legacy he needed to win something.

To me, Milner has been a great Liverpool player. But without a major trophy it's just not the same. He'd have been remembered fondly, but now he'll be remembered as a club legend. He deserves that for being such a fantastic pro and great team-mate. Not to mention being a terrific player.

I’ve said this before but it’s worth repeating. You could stick Milner in a time machine and transport him back to any era and put him in any of our great teams of the past, and he’d fit right in. Not only would be a hit on the pitch, but he’d be accepted into any dressing room as he’s just an old school pro. He's the consummate football player. A modern day Ian Callaghan.

The Barcelona game was the perfect example of how valuable Milner is to this team. First half in midfield, absolutely sensational. Second half at left back, even better.

Messi called him a donkey when they clashed at the Nou Camp. The ironic thing is, if Messi had a few like James Milner around him in that Barca team then they wouldn’t have been so easily turned over at Anfield (and by Roma last year). 

Great players need a James Milner or two around them, especially away from home when the going gets tough.

Rating 8 /10

Terrific season. He was really good last year, but he was even better this time around. And now he's a European Champion.

Best Moment: 

I’ve got three. Dumping Neymar on his arse in the first few minutes at Anfield. Dumping Messi on his arse in the Nou Camp. And breaking down in tears at full time after we beat Barca. You can also throw in any time he had to take a pen too. Balls of steel.

Worst Moment:

I suppose being called a donkey by Messi, although knowing Milner he probably buzzed off that and wears it as a badge of honour. Not taking the chance he had in the final was probably the lowest in my eyes as I'd have loved nothing more than for him to score a decisive goal in a final for us. He's probably not arsed though because we won.

The Future:

Give him a new contract. He’s as good as he’s ever been, arguably even better. He’s not slowing down and has a couple more years left in him if he’s not starting every week (which he won’t be because Klopp rotates the midfield lads constantly).