Liverpool midfielder James Milner believes that Liverpool’s League Cup semi-cup final victory over Stoke City on Tuesday can usher in a new era of success.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, the England international spoke confidently ahead of the final clash against his former side Manchester City and hopes that victory in the final could re-establish Liverpool as regular trophy winners:
We’re in a final and it’s one step further than we got last year. It’s pleasing. We’ve got a lot of improving to do as well. If we can do that, it should be exciting times at the club. There’s definitely a lot more to come from this squad.
Milner has already previously won the League Cup with Manchester City during his five-year spell at the club and believes that Liverpool could emulate his former employers by using the cup as a springboard for success in the league.
The fact that we have got to the first cup final this season. Winning the FA Cup [at City] gave us the belief that we could go and win trophies.
The first one is always important, to have that winning habit; to get over the line. The first one gave us the belief to go and win the league the next year.
This is a completely different challenge, different club and a different squad. City had one of the highest average ages in the league with experienced players, whereas here I am unfortunately one of the more senior guys and there some younger guys here and it is a different role for me again.
The 30-year-old went on to admit that the changes to the manager can prove difficult for a team in transition such as Liverpool, but reaching the final vindicates the club’s decision to go for Jurgen Klopp, who returns to Wembley after previously playing at the home of English football in the Champions League final.
The Liverpool vice-captain made no secret in the summer that his decision to leave Manchester City on a free transfer was partly due to his desire to play regular football as well as win silverware.
When asked if a cup final appearance justified his transfer, he replied:
Yes I think so. Whatever happens, you make that decision and you stick to it. You hope it is the right decision and you don’t look back. That is what I have done.
Having made 25 appearances this season for the Reds, the England international has been a regular under both Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp, despite playing in a variation of roles, including more recently playing further wide.
Barring injury, Milner should feature when Liverpool and Manchester City clash on the 28th of February, having been an unused substitute when Man City won the FA Cup in 2011 and the League Cup in 2014.
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