The stats that make Milner the absolute GOAT against Spurs

Liverpool midfieler James Milner was the absolute GOAT against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The evergreen star has surpassed everyone’s expectations and is a key part of the unit Jurgen Klopp has put together.

When you’re keeping Jordan Henderson and Fabinho out the side, you’re doing something right and Milner looks like he’s playing for his life this season.

A little competition for places goes a long way, and colleague Gini Wijnaldum has joined the former Manchester City man in upping his game, listening to Klopp and changing how he plays for the betterment of the side.

Despite his goal, it wasn’t the Dutchman who had the best game from midfield. Nor was it summer signing Naby Keita. It was Milner, the lad from Leeds United. The model professional who has barely touched a drop of alcohol in his life.

Not only did the 32-year-old run the furthest out of anyone on the pitch, but he also did it at the fastest average speed. That’s actually breathtakingly impressive when you consider the pace of Liverpool.

But Milner wasn’t just content to blow everyone out the water with his fitness. The former England international also completed the most amount of passes in Tottenham’s half, created the most chances and flung the more crosses into the Spurs’ box than any other player.

Bringing in quality can often cause existing squad members to up their game. This has been seen at the back with the arrival of Virgil van Dijk, and it appears to be happening as a reaction to Keita and Fabinho’s arrival on Merseyside.

But whatever has sparked this impressive resurgence in form, you can be sure that Klopp will continue to pick Milner until he’s run his legs into the ground. Looking at those figures, that’ll take some time so Henderson et al better learn some patience.