DON’T BLOW EUR CHANCE SAYS MILNER
JAMES MILNER has warned Liverpool not to ruin their hard work by slipping up in the Champions League play-offs.
The Reds earned a top-four finish in the Premier League to secure a return to Europe’s top competition after a two-season absence.
But first they must come through a tough two legs in August to ensure they are among Europe’s best in the group stages next season.
® And that has prompted Milner to demand his the hard work we did last team-mates hit the year. I’m sure we will.” ground running after Kop boss Jurgen Klopp their summer break. started his summer spending with the capture of £39m Mohamed Salah as well as forward Dominic Solanke, with at least three more new players expected.
So Milner reckons Liverpool will be even stronger when the new campaign kicks off.
He added: “We’re improving all the time as a team and you can see that over the last couple of years since the manager has come in. We’re moving in the right direction.
“New faces come in over the summer and the squad is a year older as well.
“It is a pretty young squad so that experience of having a successful season last year, and hopefully getting some more confidence, can stand us in good stead for the season.”
Relax
He said: “The off-season is always a funny one – you enjoy yourself and relax but you’ve always got one eye on pre-season and making sure you’re right and ready to go again.
“Obviously it’s a big start to the season for us.
“Pre-season is always tough, nobody particularly enjoys it.
“But with the tours and the qualifier, we want to hit the ground running and start the season well.
“It’s important you’re ready to go. It’s not easy to get into the qualifiers even – top four in the Premier League is tough.
“We’ve done part of the job but we have to finish that now.
“It would be disappointing not to make it after all ® EXCLUSIVE by DAVID WOODS