Man City midfielder can supply Gerrard’s lost thrust at Liverpool

Life after Steven Gerrard is no longer a concept which can be ignored at Liverpool, but if the latest rumour off the press is to be believed, the contingency plan could be arriving just as the skipper sets sail for America.

James Milner, aka Manchester City’s frontline striker, is unconvinced his future lies with the Premier League champions and Liverpool are jumping to the front of the queue to sign him.

Milner’s current Etihad deal expires at the end of the season and according to reports, the 29-year-old has told others in the City dressing room he’ll be packing his suitcase come the summer.

At this early January juncture it is still ambiguous as to whether Liverpool – priced at 7/1 to make the top four from seven points off the pace – will be able to offer Milner the Champions League football he’s become accustomed to.

However, Milner’s main beef at City is feeling unappreciated and although he’s started far more games this season than in his previous four, the versatile England man may well be pushed out of the team again once key personnel return this month.

Clearly, Liverpool losing Gerrard opens up a vacancy for an all-action central midfielder, a definition which arguably suits Milner most out of the many pressed upon him during his career to date.

Although a man of such immense talents as Gerrard can be thought of as irreplaceable by some, Milner certainly brings the kind of drive, tenacity and goal threat which Liverpool’s talisman has become legendary for at Anfield, but can no longer provide to the same degree.

Milner is no mug from a dead-ball situation either, is a confident penalty taker and possesses a fine range of passing.

Joining a cast of midfielders which will be crying out for some experience to lead them, also puts a tick firmly in Milner’s box.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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