JAMES MILNER EXPECTS to play centrally more often after completing his move to Liverpool.
The 29-year-old joined Brendan Rodgers’ team on a free transfer in June, ending a five-season stay at Manchester City where he was deployed in a number of positions and mainly out wide.
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But Milner, who was unveiled as Liverpool’s new Number 7 on Monday, says the chance to influence games in the middle was part of his reason for moving to Anfield, amid reportedly interest from elsewhere.
“I’ve been very fortunate to play for some massive clubs during my career so far and this is another one,” he told the club’s website.
“It’s a great challenge for me. I want to play football and play more centrally if I can — and that’s where the manager said he sees me playing.
“That’s a big thing for me coming to the later stages of my career — I’m not going to say the end of my career because I still feel I have plenty of football left in me. I want to play as much football as I can.
“When I’m sat at 45 and retired, I want to look back and see what I’ve done and that I’ve played games, rather than having come to the end of my career and tailed off.”
Departed captain Steven Gerrard has left a leadership hole in central midfield for Liverpool, with team-mate Jordan Henderson widely expected to take the armband, but Milner says he is ready to lead.
“If you look at the squad here, there is a great mix of home-grown British players and foreign lads as well, but there’s also quite a lot of younger players in there,” he said.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be playing for maybe 13 years or something now – it makes me feel a bit older – but hopefully I can bring that experience to the squad and help those younger guys along.
“Liverpool came so close a couple of years ago to winning the league and being up against them in that title run-in, it felt like the whole world wanted them to. That shows the love and global respect for the team.
“Hopefully, my experience can help us get into that position again. And if I can use the experience of winning trophies to help the younger guys, hopefully it can help get us [...] win some silverware.”
James Milner on one of the main one ambitions for his Liverpool career
Updated at 9.26
JAMES MILNER EXPECTS to play centrally more often after completing his move to Liverpool.
The 29-year-old joined Brendan Rodgers’ team on a free transfer in June, ending a five-season stay at Manchester City where he was deployed in a number of positions and mainly out wide.
But Milner, who was unveiled as Liverpool’s new Number 7 on Monday, says the chance to influence games in the middle was part of his reason for moving to Anfield, amid reportedly interest from elsewhere.
“I’ve been very fortunate to play for some massive clubs during my career so far and this is another one,” he told the club’s website.
“It’s a great challenge for me. I want to play football and play more centrally if I can — and that’s where the manager said he sees me playing.
“That’s a big thing for me coming to the later stages of my career — I’m not going to say the end of my career because I still feel I have plenty of football left in me. I want to play as much football as I can.
“When I’m sat at 45 and retired, I want to look back and see what I’ve done and that I’ve played games, rather than having come to the end of my career and tailed off.”
Departed captain Steven Gerrard has left a leadership hole in central midfield for Liverpool, with team-mate Jordan Henderson widely expected to take the armband, but Milner says he is ready to lead.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be playing for maybe 13 years or something now – it makes me feel a bit older – but hopefully I can bring that experience to the squad and help those younger guys along.
“Hopefully, my experience can help us get into that position again. And if I can use the experience of winning trophies to help the younger guys, hopefully it can help get us [...] win some silverware.”
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