Liverpool's James Milner and the iconic number 7 shirt
Sunday 9 August 2015 15:35, UK
From Keegan to Dalglish and, eventually, on to Suarez. The number 7 shirt has belonged to some of the most iconic players in the history of one English football’s greatest clubs.
Players like Beardsley and McManaman also among those who have worn it with distinction.
Right now it’s difficult to imagine James Milner’s name being added to that roll call of legends but maybe, right now, he’s just what the club and the shirt need.
He cost Liverpool nothing and will give everything to carry the club back as close as he can to where some of his predecessors have taken it.
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And while the weight of former glories may get to some, there’s no chance of Milner being affected by a number.
“At a club like this, whatever shirt it was, a great player would have played in it before.,” said the man, whose 13 year career has already taken him to Leeds, Newcastle Aston Villa and Man City.
“It’s a great honour, seven is obviously a very important number here but it puts no more pressure on.
“No one could put more pressure on me than I put on myself.”
There’s also a chance, even at 29, that we don’t actually know how good Milner is. In his one season in central midfield for Villa, back in the 2009-10 season, he played nearly 50 times, scored 12 goals and by almost every measure was one of the Premier League’s most influential players.
It was Brendan Rodgers’ plan to restore him to this position which helped convince Milner to reject the offer of a new contract at Manchester City. This time the ultimate team man decided to put himself first.
“I was happy at City, the fans were amazing with me, I got play with some great players and won a lot of trophies,” said Milner, who won the Premier League twice in a five-year stay at the Etihad.
“But I was in the utility bracket, fill in - but not a lot else. I feel I can contribute more to a side. I had to be selfish to come here and show people what I can do.”
The problem of playing centrally is that now, not only does Milner have to deal with playing in Kenny Dalglish’s old shirt, he also has to help fill the void left by Steven Gerrard.
“It’s a new era, moving away from Stevie, we have to collectively replace what he has done here as best we can,” he says of his former England team-mate.
“One player can’t really do it, but as a team we have to do it as best we can.”
Milner, who on Friday was confirmed as the club’s new vice-captain, seems certain to line-up in midfield alongside new skipper Jordan Henderson against Stoke on Sunday. Their partnership could be key to Liverpool’s season.
“Jordan is quality, he has a hell of a lot more about him than just energy,” Milner could just as easily be talking about himself when discussing how underrated Henderson is.
“His behind the leg pass for Adam Lallana (setting up a pre-season goal against Thai All Stars) was amazing, although I think he’s been playing too much Fifa.”
He admits it may take time but Milner is targeting, ‘a trophy cabinet full of medals’ from his time at Anfield.
Achieve that, and who knows how Liverpool’s new number 7 will be remembered.
Watch the full James Milner interview live on Super Sunday from 3.30pm on Sky Sports 1 HD. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.
