James Milner to be dropped for Manchester City game?

Liverpool take on Manchester City on Sunday, but will James Milner be picked as part of the starting XI?

Milner has been one of the Red’s best players so far this season, but could he be dropped for the good of his own health?

Dropped is probably the wrong word. Rotated is more accurate. Milner has been pretty much a stalwart in the side this season, with some memorable performances to boot.

He is however 32-years-old now. At some point the fixture pile up is just too much. It’s not fair or possible for him to play three times a week, particularly with the intensity required.

It is this intensity that puts him most at risk of dropping to the bench on Sunday. The former City boy’s game is based around hustle. He’s a busy player and works extremely hard.

What we have witnessed over the last week is a gradual deterioration in performance level in each game. It culminated in a drab performance in Naples on Wednesday night.

This is in no way a slight against Milner, it’s simply inevitable that as the legs get tired and he can’t produce performances with the same intensity. As a result, we see visible signs of fatigue, such as being about an hour late on the tackle for his booking on Wednesday.

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The issue Liverpool face is if not Milner, then who? Fabinho doesn’t look ready and Naby Keita picked up a back injury midweek.

Hold your breath Red’s fans. Could it be the man whose hips don’t lie, Xherdan Shaqiri?

One thing that Liverpool have missed this season is the forward drive in central midfield. Somebody to take the ball and drive forward, linking the midfield with the forwards. Essentially, they’ve missed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Shaqiri is likely the best alternative we have to do this job if Keita can’t play and Milner doesn’t have the legs. If Jurgen Klopp decides to go all out and attack City, he could very well spring a surprise and start the Swiss international alongside Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum.

What should be in the front of Klopp’s mind is getting after Fernandinho. The defensive midfielder has looked a touch leggy this season, and Liverpool have had great success in the past by targeting him. If a flat three in midfield isn’t best equipped to pressure the 33-year-old, Klopp could make the call.

Either way it is shaping up to be a fascinating contest, though potentially one that both sides would be content to take a draw from.