GLASGOW KOPFINAL
Milner: Liverpool squad can’t wait for Rodgers v Gerrard and I’ll be cheering on Rangers to wind up Celtic-daft Robbo
JAMES MILNER has had his fair share of box-office battles alongside his Liverpool teammates – now he admits there’s one brewing between them.
Ex-Anfield double act Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers face off on Sunday as the managerial pupil goes head to head with his former master for the first time.
For Milner, it’s as much a must-watch on Merseyside as it will be in Glasgow – and he’s already picked his corner.
The 32-year-old midfielder joked team-mate Andy Robertson is fast turning him into a Rangers fan because he doesn’t stop banging on about Celtic.
With Robertson and Virgil van Dijk both making their way to Anfield via Scotland’s top flight, Milner is at pains to understand why our game suffers a battered reputation down south.
But he knows plenty will be glued to the box come high noon – including more than a few of the Reds squad with their own duel at Leicester 24 hours earlier.
He said: “We will definitely be keeping an eye on this one.
“They are always good games to watch anyway but there’s a bit of added spice this time with the two managers going up against each other and their history.
“If nothing else we have Robbo in our dressing room who goes on about Celtic non-stop.
“Andy will definitely have it on. It was all pretty neutral before he came but I must admit I do lean towards the Rangers side when we are talking about it just to wind him up if nothing else.
“I don’t know if Scottish football gets a bad rap because of the England-Scotland banter thing. We are surrounded by people who tune into the Old Firm game.
“The league has been tough for Rangers given what they have gone through.
“I don’t have experience of Scottish football myself but I have seen the players who have come down from Scotland over the years like Virgil and I know players who are playing in Scotland now.
“You can see how many good players there are. Some of the things that are said are probably a bit disrespectful. You can see the buzz around Old Firm games.
“You only need to look at the number of people who want to watch Celtic v Rangers games, the crowds they get and the atmosphere they create.
“Scottish football deserves respect because of the size of the two Glasgow clubs if nothing else.
“I am sure it will be interesting seeing Stevie going up against Brendan. It is good for Scottish football and for Glasgow.
“Stevie is a big name and a successful player. It is early days in his managerial career but if he is half as good a manager as he was a player he will do very well. Going in at Rangers is tough. It is high profile, it is big pressure – but that is normal for him.
“It would be harder for him if there wasn’t the spotlight on him and a stadium of fans demanding success.
“It is probably something that drives him on. He needs that to be at 100 per cent.
“If you’re used to that, it isn’t a big thing. The confidence he has in his ability and the success he has had throughout his career will help him.”
After all, Milner knows fine well Gerrard hasn’t headed north for his first managerial gig to be branded a failure. But that’s exactly how any Old Firm boss who can’t get the upper hand over their city rivals is viewed.
Irrespective of what happens on Sunday, though, Milner believes Gerrard – a former England team-mate who he then encountered on the Anfield staff – will thrive in the mayhem of managerial life in Glasgow.
Gerrard has had a fine start to life in the dugout with 11 matches done and no defeat in sight.
And Milner is convinced the big-game experience of a player who collected 114 caps will see him rise to the challenge.
He said: “The Glasgow clubs are very big clubs and pushed by the other teams around them as well. It is going to be hard for Celtic to continue with the level of success they have had. To do it year in, year out with that level of expectation isn’t easy.
“To churn results out every single week is hard. Rangers, with their new manager, and the other teams are maybe sniffing a mini-crisis at Celtic.
“Losing two games is a crisis at Celtic. Rangers will maybe sense a chink in their armour and will be pushing as well.
“It is going to be an exciting season north of the border and it will be worth watching.
“It is a big first job for Stevie. Obviously it is a good test, a good job to go into. When you have been successful at everything he
Rangers are maybe sniffing a mini-crisis at Celtic .. they sense a chink in their armour and will be pushing JAMES MILNER
has tried in his playing career, like he has, he won’t think about failing – only about the other side of it.
“All the top players are like that. He’ll have 100 per cent confidence in his ability to go there and do a good job. That is why he has been so successful in his playing career.
“His ability and the experience he has gained in his playing career will stand him in good stead as a manager.
“It is a completely different thing but he has played under plenty of good managers and has played in different styles for both club and country.
“I am sure he has taken the best and worst bits from each manager, will know what he wants to do and put it into one.” And Milner reckons the former Reds skipper has plundered a few gems from his old club to help.
Jon Flanagan has joined while Ryan Kent and Ovie Ejaria are at Ibrox on season-long loans.
Milner said: “If you speak to any of the young Liverpool lads who have come up here to gain some experience, they have all said it is fantastic to have the opportunity to play in a game of this size with lots of pressure and massive expectations.
“They all just want to learn from it. It is brilliant for them. Kenty and Ejaria don’t have that much experience but they have a lot of talent. Stevie will know a lot about them and know how to get the best out of them because of his time as a coach at Liverpool.
“Flanno has had injury problems over the years but is a fantastic player to have in your side. I can remember one League Cup game – he had been out for a long time for us but came back in and played for 110 minutes.
“He was unbelievable. He is just so consistent.”
Milner was speaking as he promoted A Match for Cancer, which will take place at Parkhead on Saturday, September 8. Tickets are on sale at £14 for adults and £6 concessions. For more info visit celticfc.net or call 0871 226 1888.