sport news James Milner is PERFECT for Liverpool and represents all that is admirable ... trends now

sport news James Milner is PERFECT for Liverpool and represents all that is admirable ... trends now
sport news James Milner is PERFECT for Liverpool and represents all that is admirable ... trends now

sport news James Milner is PERFECT for Liverpool and represents all that is admirable ... trends now

Of all the photographs shared by Liverpool’s players and staff as the night lengthened on Saturday, the most strikingly simple was that of James Milner. Sitting on the bus on its way out of Wembley, Milner had the FA Cup in his hands and a smile on his face.

For Milner, it was another job done. Major honour No 10. At the age of 36, Milner is not a mainstay of this Liverpool team. In fact, he is more peripheral than he has ever been. Milner has started only eight Premier League games and just one in the two cup competitions Liverpool have won this season.

But that should not diminish his importance. Players such as Milner lend Jurgen Klopp’s squad its incredible depth and afford it a balance and calmness away from the pitch that is so important for any top club.

Players like James Milner offer incredible importance to Jurgen Klopp's squad at Liverpool

Players like James Milner offer incredible importance to Jurgen Klopp's squad at Liverpool

He was crucial to this victory, also. When he was introduced for Naby Keita with 15 minutes of regulation time left, it seemed like a strange move when Liverpool needed a match-winner.

But it turned out to be a shrewd substitution by Klopp. Milner brought Liverpool energy when they were starting to tire and also reminded us that he can pass the ball rather well.

Then, when it came to the penalty shootout, Milner was first in the queue, scoring with no fuss and setting the tone for what was to follow.

Milner was crucial to the eventual shootout win, scoring his penalty having influenced the game after his introduction earlier on

Milner was crucial to the eventual shootout win, scoring his penalty having influenced the game after his introduction earlier on

He is perfect for Liverpool, James Milner. He represents all that is admirable about them.

Chelsea were excellent on Saturday, as we all thought they would be. They could have won the final. But Thomas Tuchel’s squad has problems running all the way through it.

Romelu Lukaku — ponderous and ineffectual at Wembley — is the most obvious and the most expensive. But there are others.

The Englishman Milner (L) shows what Liverpool have in their squad that Chelsea lack

The Englishman Milner (L) shows what Liverpool have in their squad that Chelsea lack

Antonio Rudiger is about to leave having run down his contract. Timo Werner doesn’t seem to remember just how good he used to be before moving to England. And Andreas Christensen, by all accounts, simply decided not to play on Saturday having chosen to leave for Barcelona this summer.

Given all of that, and more, it is to Tuchel’s credit that

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