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Opinion: How Should Rodgers Use James Milner At Liverpool?

The transfers have begun, long live the tabloids and rumour mills, well one deal which has been confirmed is that of James Milner moving to Liverpool from Manchester City on a free transfer when his contract from City ends in July. The England international rejected a lucrative offer presented to him and joins the Merseyside club for a reported £150,000 a week salary and will be one of the most experienced players in a relatively young side.

Milner has won an FA Cup and two Premier League titles with Manchester City and it is this experience and big game knowledge that he brings to the club. Liverpool have needed someone who can replace Steven Gerrard in terms of Premier League experience and getting a 29-year-old England international on a free transfer has to be one of the best deals Brendan Rodgers has pulled off in a while.

Milner is one of the most versatile players in the Premier League, he can play as a winger, defensive midfielder and a playmaker in central midfield, he can also chip in as an attacking midfielder and one of the prime reasons for him leaving City was in search if regular football, something that he has been harping on for almost a season.

The chance to play regularly might have been a tempting offer for Milner but he was touted by a lot of clubs before signing for Liverpool, there must be more to this than moving to a club which will not be playing in the Champions League next season, Rodgers must have a plan with Milner.

The best position for the Englishman

Milner is known for his work rate and consistency and that is what Liverpool need in their squad, someone who gives it their all every game. Milner would be looking not only to start as many games as possible for Liverpool and would be hoping to play in his preferred role of a central midfielder. That would be one of his reasons to move to Liverpool, playing in the Steven Gerrard role and while Milner cannot be a direct replacement for Gerrard; he still can do a great job for the club.

Milner would play in a midfield with Jordan Henderson as his partner in crime and while neither of them are defensive midfielders out and out, Milner would provide more cover than Gerrard could have provided to the team. Milner could be a perfect holding midfielder who can make those all-important runs and catch the opposition out. The need for someone who can be creative and penetrate defences is something that Liverpool need and Milner could well do just that.

The other great thing about his gameplay is that he can play as a winger if that is the requirement, the English man might not get to play as a central midfielder in all the games but Liverpool have a flexible system and that could work to Milner’s advantage as they could deploy him as an attacking midfielder or a winger.

Milner is just one small building block that Liverpool need if they are to challenge for the top four spot once again, but it is a move in the right direction. Brendan Rodgers probably has just this season left if he wants to be in charge of Liverpool for longer, he has to get a top four finish this season and this signing should be the right way to go about it, a few more players and Liverpool might just be able to reclaim a Champions League place.