As James Milner announced he will be stepping away from football as a player, he will be remembered as the current Premier League all-time appearance maker, as he beat Gareth Barry’s record of 653 in February, with the current record standing at 658, making the majority of his appearances for Liverpool.
He played 230 times in the Premier League for the Reds were he scored 19 times and registered 27 assists, as he was a crucial part of several title battles, as well as ensuring his team won the league in 2019-20, ending the Merseyside outfit’s 30-year drought.
Main attributes of Milner’s game allowed him to set the milestone, from his extremely high quality, which saw him break the Champions League assist record in 2017-18, for the most assists in one campaign, to his leadership sparking life into the squad, though there was enough that made him ‘Mr reliable’ under Jurgen Klopp.
Leaving Manchester City for Liverpool
When the English midfielder left the Etihad for Anfield, he was growing increasingly concerned over his playing time with Manchester City, as their ridiculous transfer powers allowed them to sign almost any player they would like.
Milner spoke on the Rest is Football podcast, where he discussed his feelings at City, where his role in the squad was diminishing despite being a highly versatile option for a side that was expected to compete for the league title.
“I played every position, every year they signed a player in my position, I started the season out of the team, and I’d have to fight my way back, and I always backed myself and played well.”
After aggressive market deals, he believed his future lay elsewhere, and that was with Liverpool. When Klopp arrived a few months into his deal at Anfield, it flipped the structure on it’s head, as he quickly became the German’s right-hand man on the field, no matter where he played.
Klopp on Milner’s versatility
When the former Borussia Dortmund boss moved to England, the Reds had limited options at fullback, with Nathaniel Clyne being their option from the right, and Alberto Moreno being their first choice left back. In an interview with ESPN, Klopp looked back on a conversation he had with his vice captain, which helped him break the league record.
“I asked him what would you prefer, right back or left back? And he said ‘neither’ If you are fixed to one position, then it’s pretty clear that over the years there will be a player in your position that is either as good as you or better.
“The more positions you can play, it gives you a longer lifeline, 100%. I think we gave Milly a longer lifeline, and especially a lot more games with the full back position. If we take them off, he would have to play another two years.”
Before they made the move for Andy Robertson, he immediately became their first choice left back ahead of Moreno in the 2016/17 campaign, as they got back into the Champions League places as their crusade on European football truly got underway.
In the following years, Liverpool signed a host of midfielders to add further competition in the middle of the park. Georginio Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all joined in the span of the following 12 months, though the Englishman remained a cog to the wheel.
His commitment to the club, putting them ahead of his own desires made him a hero, as the Kop continued to show their appreciation every week. The versatility to offered allowed him to reach the record that no one else can claim, and it will take a long time before it has been erased from the history books.
