James Milner is quietly having an outstanding season for Liverpool so far. The veteran truly is the ultimate squad player.
James Milner hasn’t played too many Premier League minutes for Liverpool this season. If you combine them all, you get the equivalent of 5.6 sets of 90 minutes.
But the 35-year-old’s stats over those minutes are quite fantastic. In fact, they’re far better than they have any right to be, given Milner hasn’t been a consistent player over the first half of the campaign.
James Milner shines for Liverpool
For starters, Milner is one of the most creative players at Liverpool this season. Only four players in the squad boast a higher number of expected assists per 90 (0.23). Only two regulars average more progressive passes – forward passes over 10 yards in the attacking 60 yards – and those are Thiago and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
And his passing stats just keep looking great. Only three regulars average more passes into the final third and only five complete more into the penalty area.
Defensively, too, Milner is outstanding. Only two players are more successful with their pressing (40.2%) and absolutely no one averages more combined tackles and interceptions (5.54).
We think Milner is playing brilliantly right now, as shown with his game-changing performance against Leicester City. His all-around game is outstanding, delivering some of the best stats at Liverpool in both attack and defence.
It’s not exactly a secret that Milner is the ultimate squad player, He’s capable of doing everything, playing several positions and his engine is simply remarkable. But it is flying a little under the radar this season that he’s delivering so consistently.
And as he moves through his twilight years, it’s increasingly clear that Liverpool will struggle to ever replace him.
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