It might not be the most obvious comparison, nor one James Milner might be thankful for being made, but the Liverpool vice-captain could end up playing a role this season akin to that of the great Gary McAllister, back in Gerard Houllier’s treble-winning season of 2000/01.
Stylistically, of course, they are hugely different: McAllister was all set-piece prowess, a calm head amid young runners, untold experience. He didn’t even sign for the Reds until he was 35; even now, Milner is only 32 and is far more about his work rate, selflessness and adaptability to game situations.
But there are similarities, too, and plenty of them which suggest Milner can have a similarly important impact on the side, even if he’s not in the team every week.
Revisionism
Looking back at years gone by is great; anyone can turn around and say such-and-such was a great player, fondly ignoring all the times the same player made the same fan tear their hair out after another misplaced pass or wayward finish. In the case of McAllister, there’s not much revisionism required - but it is often ignored or overlooked that he wasn’t even in the team for a large part of that 00/01 season.
In the Reds’ UEFA Cup run, where Gary Mac’s penalty beat Barcelona in the semi-finals and he both scored and assisted in the final, he didn’t even start a match until the last 16. His third start was the semi-final, second leg. In Premier League play it was much the same: His first 90-minute appearance came in October, and between mid-December and mid-February he was in the starting lineup just once.
His influence wasn’t just on the pitch, however, and once matters turned to the key part of the season - lots of games, high-pressure stakes, small margin for error - it was McAllister’s mentality and quality which came to the fore, even while those around him (including Steven Gerrard in his real breakout season) were absorbing knowledge and know-how.
Milner in Europe
Turn the clocks back a single season, it was a little similar for Milner. He was in and out of the team domestically for a long time, and didn’t play the first two Champions League group games. But, as the season wore on, his ability to produce exactly the same type of performance regardless of the crucial nature of matches won him many admirers, as well as a place in Jurgen Klopp’s starting lineup.
In the Champions League in particular, the Reds would not have gone as far as they did without some outstanding Milner performances, notably first of all at Porto. From then on, he was a guaranteed name on the team-sheet.
This term, it’ll be even harder for the veteran to establish himself regularly in the XI. The arrival of Naby Keita takes up one spot, and Fabinho will be in battle with Jordan Henderson for another sooner or later. There’s enormous competition in the centre of the park, and Milner will have to bide his time at some points, confident that when the matches really start to matter, his experience and proven record will lead the boss to pick him.
Football is rarely about 11 on the pitch these days. An impact sub, a tactical change, a surprising opportunity to for a squad player to cover for an injury: all are not just legitimate ways of getting into the lineup, but actually a vital necessity for top sides to have at their disposal. Liverpool supporters only have to look at Andy Robertson for proof of that, and how vital he has become having started last term on the sidelines.
Milner, once again, will likely have to perform a similar trick.
Like McAllister, he’s an elder statesman of the squad, one who will show the way to succeed not just by technique, but by application, professionalism and quiet leadership. Follow his path, and a younger midfielder won’t go far wrong.
And, like McAllister, even if he he’s not the best in the team or the one who has to be in the starting 11 every week, there’s an almighty chance he’s the one who is selected on the biggest of stages when it matters most near the end of the campaign.
