Napoli have got the Lotti
RAFA: ITALIANS WON’T BE FAZED BY FAMOUS KOP ATMOSPHERE MIL JUST GRINDS OUT CLASS
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
FORGET Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and even Luka Modric. Gini Wijnaldum says James Milner is the best in the world.
Dutch midfielder Wijnaldum reckons there is no more versatile footballer in the game than his 32-year-old Liverpool team-mate.
Wijnaldum said: “Which player in the world can you play in every position in a team and he will do really well in all of those positions?
“There is no one, apart from Milner. He has played in so many different roles – and he is always brilliant. That’s why I rate him among the very best at the top, I really do. Wherever the boss puts him on the pitch, he will always be better than his opponent and will always do a great job for the team.
“That is an amazing quality. What Milner is capable of at this level, I have never seen other players do that.
“Milner will always get great marks, no matter on what position our manager puts him.”
Milner (right) has enjoyed a new lease of life under Jurgen Klopp since moving to Anfield on a free transfer when his contract at Manchester City expired three years ago.
His versatility counted against him at the Etihad and Milner insisted he moved to Merseyside to play in his favoured central midfield role.
He is the man Klopp turns to in an emergency – but is getting regular football in the team.
Wijnaldum said: “Some players can get frustrated when they have to switch positions.
“But with Milner, you will never see a mood swing. His attitude just stays the same.
“I have to be honest, I can have a right hump when I have to play in a position where I don’t want to play.
“Five years ago I could not have played in a holding midfielder role”
The ex-reds chief believes that neither Carlo Ancelotti nor his players will be cowed in a game that is vital to both clubs’ chances of progressing in the Champions League.
Benitez himself came through a nervejangling final group game 14 years ago after Steven Gerrard inspired a famous victory over Olympiakos en route to the Miracle of Istanbul.
And the Spaniard, who managed Napoli for two seasons before leaving for Real Madrid in 2015, believes that though the Reds are making good progress under Jurgen Klopp, they will need to be careful on Tuesday night.
Benitez said: “It will be a fantastic atmosphere at Anfield – it always is – and Champions League nights are even better, so it will be difficult for Napoli.
“But Carlo Ancelotti has experience of operating at this level.
“And he has players such as keeper Rual Albiol, wingers Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens, playmaker Marek Hamsik and striker Lorenzo Insigne who will not be worried about any noise.
“It’s a difficult game for Liverpool. Napoli are playing well in Serie A. Under Ancelotti, the players are comfortable in different systems. For me, one key could be the counter-attack.
“Liverpool will be on the front foot from the beginning and Mertens, Insigne or Callejon are tricky customers with their movement and pace.
“Both teams need to win which makes it even more interesting.
“Napoli know what it means to qualify. In my first season there we won 12 group points, yes 12, and didn’t go through.
“It was the first time a team with that number of points hadn’t qualified and I can still remember the faces after the last game.
“It was hard to take. And a lot of those players are still there. Yes, they will know what it means.”
Benitez signed the likes of Mertens and Callejon for Napoli shortly after arriving in the southern Italian city. But arguably his most potentially lucrative capture was Kalidou Koulibaly from Genk for £7million – now a £75m target for Chelsea – who he says is likely to catch the eye.
Benitez added: “Koulibaly has all the potential to do well in England. He’s quick, can use both feet and he is good in the air. “Having worked with him, what was good was that he was open to improvement. He wanted to learn. And he is left-footed. He’s a top-class centre-half.”
Benitez also expects that the Reds, under Klopp, will lift silverware. He said: “The manager is doing a good job – but the competition at the moment is quite strong too.
“It’s like always in football – people remember the teams that won trophies. Liverpool have the potential to do that – and I honestly think they will – but when in the future that will be, I don’t know.
“They have a young team, so they have years ahead of them to land some prizes.”