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Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp makes surprise James Milner statement over midfield depth
LIVERPOOL’s James Milner is playing the finest football of his career.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool Premier League match preview
That’s the suggestion of Jurgen Klopp as he discussed the options at his disposal in Liverpool’s midfield.
Summer signing Naby Keita has received plenty of plaudits following an excellent debut in a 4-0 victory over West Ham United at Anfield last weekend.
The £52.75million signing from RB Leipzig - who has waited to move to Merseyside since a deal was agreed in August 2017 - provided a glimpse of his accomplished all-rounded abilities as Liverpool laid an early marker.
But it was Milner who claimed the man of the match award with an equally-as-impressive display in the middle, setting up Liverpool’s second with a cross for Sadio Mane to make it 2-0 at the end of the first half.
The 32-year-old remains a vital part of Klopp’s set-up despite the abundance of options available to Klopp including another new addition, Fabinho, captain Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum.
Milner returned to his midfield role last year having played the 2016-17 campaign at left-back and back in his preferred position was particularly influential in the Champions League in particular as Liverpool reached the final.
Although they went down to Real Madrid in Kiev, Liverpool’s blistering goalscoring record in Europe - 47 in 15 games - saw Milner surpass Wayne Rooney and Neymar to boast the record for most assists in one season in the Champions League with nine.
And Klopp believes that vice-captain Milner’s current form is the best of his 17-year top-flight career following spells with Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Man City.
I don't want to judge his career but it feels like it's the best moment of his career.
“We talk about Naby Keita, that's good, he's new,” said Klopp. “But James Milner made big steps in the last three years, that's the truth.
“I don't want to judge his career but it feels like it's the best moment of his career.
“Gini Wijnaldum, no-one speaks about him. He came from Newcastle as kind of a number 10 or winger. He can play the six [role] and the eight in the way I don't know many players can. They don't talk about him.
“The world is like that. When it's new it's fantastic, [but] what you already have [feel like saying] 'yeah, I'm still here too'.
“We only spoke about these three but Fabinho didn't play a minute so far and we expect big things from him. Adam Lallana, a long time injured. There's Xherdan Shaqiri too.
“All these things are good but they need to be good. It's not that we are surprised. It's exactly as good as necessary and now we have to make the best of it.
“That's exciting but the only thing we can do is work really hard and make the best of it.”
Liverpool face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in their next Premier League outing tomorrow night (8pm).