Milner fires a warning to Mourinho’s boys
JAMES MILNER has warned arch-rivals Manchester United that Liverpool are on the march.
Milner’s late penalty ensured they went into the international break with plenty of momentum on the back of a fourth consecutive league victory. Next up in a fortnight is Jose Mourinho’s side at Anfield. And Milner believes Liverpool are a growing force under Jurgen Klopp this season. “We’ve got a big game when we come back and hopefully everyone will return from international duty fully fit,” Milner said. “There’s a long way to go in the title race and it’s early stages, but we know we can beat anyone on our day and we’ve got to keep that going.
Happy
“The good thing is that we can only get better. I’m 30 and one of the oldest, which is disappointing for me but pleasing when you look at how youthful our squad is and the room there is for improvement.”
Milner secured all three points late on with his fourth penalty of the season after Roberto Firmino had cancelled out Leroy Fer’s opener.
“We were really poor in the first half,” Milner added. “But there are plenty of positives and we’re happy with the way it’s going and there are things we can improve on.
“We’ve had a couple of tough games against teams that some people think you should beat – but we all know what the Premier League is like and things are never that simple.
“This Swansea game was massive because it means we go into the international break having put a run together.
‘‘A draw or defeat would have been disappointing because it would have halted that momentum.”
Milner praised Klopp (right) who will celebrate a year at Anfield this Saturday.
“I’ve probably had too many managers but he’s definitely one of the best that I have worked with,” said Milner, who also said he would not come out of international retirement for England. “His organisation, the sessions he does are different from anything I’ve ever experienced, and his passion can only be a good thing.” Klopp said: “We will not celebrate the year, I can tell you that, and hopefully nobody will bring me a cake. “I have no time, and I am not in the mood for reflection, to be honest. “The thing is, I’m not here for a year, I’m here hopefully for the long term, and it means that we have to use all the information we have until now and learn from it. ‘‘That’s how life works, collecting experience, learning from it and being ready for the next challenge.” Klopp may be in it for the long term but Francesco Guidolin’s eight-month Swansea reign looks about to end. Guidolin admitted before the game that he could be sacked if the result went against him. The club’s owners held talks on Saturday night and more are planned for this week – with Ryan Giggs, Bob Bradley and Jurgen Klinsmann all under consideration as potential replacements. But goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski refused to blame this latest defeat on the uncertainty over Guidolin’s future. He said: “I can only respond for myself but I just focus on my job, trying to do my best for the club. “We played well again in this game, which is why it is a tough time for us. ‘‘I don’t know what the problem is at the moment because all the lads are trying their best.’’