Every player in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool squad: Stay or sell?

CM James Milner: STAY

Equal amounts of time were spent on whether he should stay and what position he should be listed under. Is he at centeral midfield, like he was promised by Rodgers when he agreed to sign on, or right midfield, where he seemed to play when Klopp took over, or attacking right midfield, where he’s been lately?

Unlike Gomez and Can, who can play multiple positions but it’s obvious where their future lies, it’s not the same for the 30-year-old Milner. Being at that advanced age, my best guess puts him regularly away from the flanks.

As far as his status on the team is concerned, in recent days he’s shown his importance to the side. It’s easy to get caught up in the whole “Boring James Milner” shtick and just assume he’s not doing anything, which I did become victim to, but he does so much good work that goes unnoticed.

For instance, there’s no way to quantify tracking runners all the way back to deter crosses or attempted passes. He breaks up play and he never switches off. So when a player in possession looks up, Milner doesn’t lose his man.

The conundrum is similar to Can’s, though, being that Liverpool should likely bring in a top rate central midfielder and Milner will fall behind Henderson and this International Man of Mystery who could be signed. As said with Can, Klopp likes three central midfielders to play at a time. Sometimes this includes an anchor, other times it includes a no. 10, and some he goes for three box to box midfielders.

The trouble will be if he fits in the starting XI every week, like he was assured last summer.

Next: Joe Allen