Stuart Pearce now makes surprising claim about ‘magnificent’ Liverpool player

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Liverpool vice-captain James Milner is one of the best Premier League players of all-time.

Not our words, the words of TalkSPORT pundit Stuart Pearce. Speaking on the radio station yesterday, Pearce – who managed Milner for England U21’s – claimed that the Reds midfielder is ‘pound for pound’ the best the division has ever seen.

“People will say you’re crazy and throw other names, but pound for pound, he is the best player in the Premier League there’s ever been. I’d stick by that,” the pundit insisted. “For what you get, for what he gives you around the training camp, the games that he plays, everything he stands for. All of those things, if you put that in a computer, his name will come out one of the top ones.

“Not the best as in ability wise. I’m talking about everything that a modern-day player should give you. For professionalism, how he conducts himself. I’ve never seen a bad word in newsprint about James Milner.

“He’s the record caps holder for the U21’s, he’s an England international, went on to get 47 caps, something of that nature, he’s won the league with Liverpool, he’s won the league with Manchester City. He’s just an incredible individual to work with.

“We talk about leadership being such a sparse commodity. I think Liverpool have been really fortunate because they’ve got Henderson and Milner in their dressing rooms. If you want to know what they’re like as individuals, go and ask Klopp about how they conduct themselves and probably how they guide others around them. Milner’s just magnificent, for me.”

Milner makes his mark

Some may afford themselves a rueful chuckle at Pearce’s words here. There are four or five players in Liverpool’s current squad alone who are arguably higher up the Premier League’s all-time list than Milner.

But in reality, the Yorkshireman is one of the division’s most consistent players. The veteran now sits third on the competition’s appearances table, behind only Gareth Barry and Ryan Giggs.

Both of those also won league titles – Giggs clocking in 13 with Manchester United and Barry alongside Milner at Manchester City. But neither managed to win it with multiple clubs. Our No.7 did.

So, there is some kind of logic to what Pearce is saying. Few have made the impact that Milner has at his respective clubs whilst maintaining such high levels of professionalsim.

Liverpool are certainly going to miss those qualities when the 37-year-old leaves the club this summer. As became clear yesterday, Milner is set for pastures new next season.

With Brighton in his sights, he’ll no doubt set about hunting down the 38 games he needs to surpass Barry’s appearances record. That’ll take some doing for Milner, as he embarks on a single-year deal. But hey, he’s one of the best the Premier League has ever seen, he shouldn’t have any trouble with it!