IN QUAD WE TRUST
Milner says Reds are just admits the drive for four Taking it one game at a time - but trophies is what spurs them on
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STANDING shirtless like a warrior on the side of the St James’ Park pitch, James Milner backed Liverpool to remain “relentless” in their unprecedented trophy pursuit.
But there was a sting in the tail of Milner’s strong words of belief in Jurgen Klopp and his Quadruple-chasing side.
They have the Carabao Cup in the bag but now face an epic 26-day period when they will chase the Champions League, FA Cup and Premier League crowns. And Milner ( far right) says if they falter on all counts, and end up with just one cup at the end of this potentially incredible campaign, it will have been “an average season.”
That is what is driving them on. They are anything but average. In fact they are probably, alongside Manchester City, the best side in the world.
Klopp’s men won the 42nd game out of 56 so far thanks to Naby Keita’s first-half strike and attention immediately turned to Europe and the semi-final second leg against Villarreal in Spain tomorrow night.
If they get through that unscathed they’ll have played in every possible game this season – 63 in total. So far they’ve lost just three times.
Milner said: “We’ve been lucky enough to win one trophy this year but if we don’t win anything else it’s an average season for the club.
“The Quadruple? It’s what you guys talk about. It’s every three days now for us. We recover, we prepare, we go again for the next game. It’s a cycle. It’s preparation. It’s analysis.
“There’s always going to be talk about things like that but for us it’s all about the next game. You see the mindset, the relentlessness every day. You see the boys who aren’t playing – the level they train at the day after a game. It starts from the manager and the boys deserve so much credit. The attitude in the dressing room is unreal.”
The 36-year-old anchored midfield expertly alongside Jordan Henderson and goal hero Keita. Liverpool had 24 shots on goal to Newcastle’s two, and were never in danger
a Toon side who had won six on the bounce on Tyneside soil before kick-off.
Bigger tests lie ahead, with the pressure cranked up as each trophy chance reaches a climax. But the goal from Guinea international Keita (celebrating with Luis Diaz, left) was enough to turn up the heat on Manchester City.
Milner added: “The games seem more important when you get closer to the end of the season. It was tough.”
Whatever happens this season, Milner is delighted that Klopp (below) has signed a new deal to stay as manager until 2026 at least. He joked: “He’s not a bad manager, is he? Yeah, we’re all happy.”
Milner was at Anfield when former Borussia Dortmund manager Klopp arrived in October 2015 and has charted the team’s development.
He added: “I’ve seen that process bit by bit. Seeing signs but not having consistency every week. Then building it. And then the quality with the ball. It’s been one big process.
“He’s done an incredfrom ible job and the longer he’s here the better it is for the football club.
“You can see the changes – there’s been a lot of changes in personnel and on the playing staff.
“The intensity has always been there but we manage to maintain it now. I think you see the level the boys played at midweek and then to do it again on Saturday is incredible.
“That’s a process about getting the fitness levels, and the mentality to be able to do it.
“You wouldn’t be able to talk about the competitions we’re still in at this stage of the season if we hadn’t got a squad full of strong players.”