The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
‘Special season’ after Reds win second cup
James Milner is determined to add at least one more trophy to Liverpool’s domestic cup double but says this will be a “special season no matter what” happens over the next fortnight.
There are just three matches remaining in the Reds’ quest for an unprecedented quadruple.
Jurgen Klopp’s side kept those hopes alive by repeating February’s Carabao Cup win on Saturday, with a goalless 120 minutes followed by another penalty shootout victory against Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
The Reds will lock horns with Real Madrid at the Stade de France in the Champions League final on May 28, but first comes their final Premier League matches against Southampton and Wolves.
Milner knows former club Manchester City have the upper hand in the title race, but feels a secondplaced finish would not take the edge off an unforgettable Liverpool campaign.
“You guys can keep talking about it,” he said of the quadruple. “For us, we just need to take a game at a time like we have done all year.
“We have three games left. We will try and win them and see where that takes us.
“We know it’s in City’s hands. They’re in a good position and they’re a relentless, very good team.
“So, for us to be where we are at this point in the season, to have two trophies in the cabinet and to still have a glimmer of hope in the other two, it’s been a special season no matter what.
“But we want at least one other piece of silverware.”
Milner’s second FA Cup triumph came 11 years after his first win, with the veteran coming off the bench in the second half of Saturday’s match to add energy and experience in midfield.
Asked what Klopp’s message to him was when replacing Naby Keita, he said: “Just use your experience and try to get the energy and aggression into the game, but also be calm when we’ve got the ball.
“That was the message and that’s what we tried to do. Go in and try to lift the guys.
“They’ve played so many games, the effort they put in continually.
“You could see the fatigue out there, a couple of niggles as well, a couple of the boys coming off and things like that.
“The effort and workload the boys have put in this season has been incredible, the amount of games they’ve had.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the attitude and the drive within the dressing room to keep going, no matter what’s happening, no matter how the game is going, the fatigue, mentally.
“They just keep going and going, pressing into extra-time and the boys up front pressing.
“This is a special group of not only players but staff as well. It’s a special group.”
Alisson Becker was the spot-kick hero as the Reds secured another penalty shootout triumph against Chelsea to win their first FA Cup since 2006.
Edouard Mendy prevented Sadio Mane striking the winner after Cesar Azpilicueta had hit the post, only for the Brazil goalkeeper to deny Mason Mount before Kostas Tsimikas struck to seal a 6-5 win.
Wembley was rocking to Liverpool’s beat at fulltime, just as it was in the opening minutes as they flew out of the blocks.
But Chelsea saw out the early storm and began to ask questions at the other end in a first half that saw Reds star Mohamed Salah limp off injured.
Marcos Alonso’s audacious free-kick hit the bar during a rampant Chelsea start to a topsyturvy second period, which ended with Luis Diaz and Andrew Robertson striking the post for Liverpool.
That pulsating half made way for a tepid period of extra time between exhausted sides that raised themselves for penalties, which ended with red smoke and Liverpool cheers filling the air.
The celebrations remained sensible, however, as Klopp’s players turned their attention to tomorrow’s league trip to Southampton.
“He knows that the boys are bang at it,” Milner said. You’ve got to celebrate it, you’ve got to enjoy it but obviously we’ve got another game coming up quickly, like it’s been all season.
“All season it’s been the same – another game to concentrate on.
“The mentality of the boys has been so good to be able to refocus and go again.”