Milner targets trophies after a top-four finish

LIVERPOOL vice-captain James Milner admits qualifying for the Champions League is only a step in their development and they must now start winning trophies.

A top-four finish, which puts the Reds into an August play-off to reach Europe’s elite club competition outright, was the minimum requirement at the start of the season after only one previous appearance in the last seven years.

However, Milner went through a similar process with Manchester City and, while he accepts making the Champions League represents progress, he insists the biggest strides are made by winning silverware.

Jurgen Klopp’s side came close twice during the 2015/16 season, losing out in the EFL and Europa League finals, and Milner believes a top-four finish should give them the platform on which to build.

“It is not easy to be in the Champions League — think of the teams who are not in it now,” he said.

“It’s all right saying you should be in it, get in the top four, but there are a lot of quality teams fighting for it and in and around it and we have managed to achieve that.

“Personally the biggest thing for us at City was winning the FA Cup: getting that first trophy under our belt, giving you that belief.

“Champions League was a step along the way. Last year we came close (to a trophy) but couldn’t get over the line. But playing in those sort of occasions and in those big games is important.

“It’s exciting times for the football club and that is something I wanted to be part of when I came here.

“Hopefully now we can stick a few trophies in the cabinet. That is the next step.”

Ray McKinnon