James Milner admits that switching positions has been a “big change” for him but the Liverpool vice-captain says he has been happy to rein in his attacking impulses this season.
After making the majority of his 453 Premier League appearances as a midfielder Milner was moved to left-back in the summer by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, and the 31-year-old excelled in his new role to the extent that he was selected for all but two PL matches in 2016/17 as Liverpool finished fourth.
"I’ve been learning a new role and a more defensive one because I’ve always been a forward-thinking player, and probably still am,” Milner, who will be participating in the Premier League Asia Trophy next month, told Liverpool.com. “But at times you have to curb that and adapt to the match situation and maybe sometimes hold back a bit if the time of the game suits that.
"Wherever there's a leak, I'll plug the gap." 🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 5, 2017
Insight on life at left-back from James Milner: https://t.co/sqCUHLaU4N pic.twitter.com/6o90GDkpY6
"Would I say I’m a left-back now? I’d probably say utility man. I’ll play wherever’s needed. Wherever there’s a leak, I’ll plug the gap."
