Milner ‘the best poundfor-pound footballer’

LONDON: Former England defender Stuart Pearce has claimed that Liverpool’s James Milner is ‘the best pound-for-pound’ footballer’ the Premier League has ever seen.

The 32-year-old midfielder has started all five of Liverpool’s victories in their 100 per cent start to the season, completing 90 minutes on four occasions, including in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Tottenham.

Milner has made 490 appearances in the Premier League with Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Leeds, making his debut with the latter as a 16-year-old way back in November 2002.

“There’s a saying in boxing on who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” Pearce told talkSPORT. “I think Milner is the best pound-for-pound footballer in the Premier League, potentially there has been.

“I don’t think he’s been the best footballer by a million miles but you should throw everything into the mix like professionalism.

“He’s 32 years old now and he’s ridiculously low maintenance and I’ve never seen one detrimental story about Milner in the papers.

“He’s probably run more than any player that’s taken to the pitch over those last 16 years, he’s played over 130 games at all age groups for the England national team.

“At one stage Manchester City thought he was surplus to requirements and he went to Liverpool. Then all of a sudden he plays a season at left back for Liverpool and he’s fantastic there.

“You just can’t keep him down. He will not go under.”