Monday 22 May 2017 23:16, UK
James Milner says Champions League football is only a step in Liverpool's ultimate goal to bring trophies back to Anfield.
Liverpool's 3-0 win over Middlesbrough secured fourth spot on the final day of the Premier League campaign and an August play-off to reach Europe's elite club competition outright for only the second time in eight seasons.
Jurgen Klopp's side reached both the EFL Cup and Europa League finals in his first year in charge but failed to claim either trophy, but Liverpool vice-captain Milner thinks qualification to the Champions League can be the catalyst for silverware.
"It is not easy to be in the Champions League - think of the teams who are not in it now," said former Manchester City midfielder Milner.
"It's alright saying you should be in it, get in the top four, but there are a lot of quality teams fighting for it and in and around it and we have managed to achieve that.
"Personally the biggest thing for us at City was winning the FA Cup: getting that first trophy under our belt, winning something, giving you that belief.
"Champions League was a step along the way. Last year we came close (to a trophy) but couldn't get over the line. But playing in those sort of occasions and in those big games is important.
"It's exciting times for the football club and that is something I wanted to be part of when I came here.
"Hopefully now we can stick a few trophies in the cabinet. That is the next step."
Milner has been used as a stand-in left-back under Klopp in a season which saw Liverpool appear title challengers before the turn of the calendar year, only for disappointing results against some of the league's lower-standing teams cause them to tail off.
Liverpool have already proved they will be able to mix it with "big teams" in the Champions League, according to Milner, who believes their involvement in the competition can help bring consistency throughout next season.
"We have proved we can beat big teams in big games, definitely, but it's about keeping the consistency against those teams that come here and sit back. It's about finding a way to win," said the 31-year-old, who maintains he is happy to play wherever Klopp asks him to next season.
"Obviously the bigger the games you play and the bigger the competitions the more we are going to improve as a team. It's about putting yourselves in those situations.
"This season we have improved. Last year there was good and bad. Most of the games this year even though we have lost points, we have dominated games.
"Last year we were more Jekyll and Hyde - we could be brilliant one week and terrible the next.
"This year we have dominated possession and made steps forward, winning at tough places like West Brom and Stoke.
"That is another side to our squad. It's a young squad and the average age is the second-youngest in the Premier League, which is another positive - although maybe not for me because it makes me feel a lot older.
"The longer we are together it is better and I am sure there will be more new faces in the summer."
