Liverpool’s James Milner says he finds it weird whenever he has to play against his boyhood club Leeds United.
The Reds take on Leeds tomorrow night at Anfield. And speaking via Football Daily, Milner says it’s a special fixture for him.
“It’s always slightly strange in the build-up. Obviously, you get asked things and stuff, but once the game starts, the whistle’s blown, it’s like any other game, you’re trying to do the best for your team. The things around the game, before and after, it’s weird. My family are all still Leeds fans, I’ve got a lot of friends who are Leeds fans and growing up [I was] following Leeds and played for them,” said the 36-year-old.
“So, it’s always slightly strange, they obviously mean a lot to me, but you always prepare as well as you can and once that whistle goes it doesn’t matter who you’re playing against.”
Milner is unlikely to start for Liverpool as they look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League. But should the former Leeds man take to the field at any stage, he’ll likely get a warm reception from the travelling fans.
From Leeds to Liverpool, and everything in-between
There are probably a fair few Liverpool fans who had expected Milner to have returned to Leeds by now.
With his contract ending in the summer, it felt like a decent time for the veteran to return to his local team.
Instead, Milner signed a new deal which will extend his stay at Liverpool to eight years. With over 300 appearances now for the club, he has played for the Reds more than any other side in his career.
For a player who didn’t join until after turning twenty-nine, that isn’t bad going. And judging by his recent display against Manchester City, another former club, Liverpool’s No.7 isn’t stopping just yet.
He may have played for five different Premier League clubs across a stellar 20-year career, but it feels like it’ll be Liverpool where he’s most warmly remembered.
That’s credit to Milner’s constant strive to push his standards and those of the players around him.
Liverpool wouldn’t have achieved what they have over recent years without him. Jurgen Klopp has said as much many times before. So, he may have been made in Leeds, but Milner is all Liverpool now.
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