TUESDAY 20 AUGUST 2019

Sorting out midfield is

Liverpool’s final puzzle

Jurgen Klopp is adamant that he does not have a ‘favourite midfield’ (Getty)

TONY EVANS

James Milner stood out. His bandaged head was always going to draw attention in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory
over Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday but it was the 33-year-old’s relentless running and deft touches
that caught the eye. On an afternoon where Jurgen Klopp’s team were pushed to the limit by the south coast
side, Milner’s indefatigable approach was the essence of leadership by example.

The midfielder gashed open his eyebrow in an aerial challenge with James Ward-Prowse during a first-half
when Liverpool were battered and bruised by Ralph Hasenhüttl’s team. Southampton had done their
homework and set out to neutralise the strengths of the European champions. It worked until stoppage time

Sport /Football