Adam Lallana is adamant the running joke of "boring James Milner" couldn't be further from the truth as the Liverpool midfielder closes in on a landmark 600th Premier League appearance.
Veteran midfielder Milner could reach the major milestone if he features against Tottenham Hotspur on on Sunday, becoming just the fourth player to do so alongside Frank Lampard, Ryan Giggs and Gareth Barry. The 36-year-old has remained at the top-level of English football for two decades, making his debut as a 16-year-old at boyhood club Leeds United in 2002 before stints at Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City and then Liverpool.
The former England international has spent the longest period of his career with the Reds, making over 300 appearances across all competitions. Milner, Liverpool's vice-captain, has emerged as a dressing room leader at Anfield, sharing his vast experience with the younger core and acting as a link between players and coaching staff.
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His consistently functional form, no-nonsense press conferences and dry sense of humour led to a long-standing joke that he is somewhat dull - @BoringMilner has amassed nearly 700,000 followers on Twitter.
But Lallana, who was at Liverpool when Milner arrived and spent five seasons at Anfield with him, has rubbished talk the midfielder lacks personality by revealing that he was one of the liveliest and loudest in the Reds dressing room.
"He played a huge part in changing the culture when Jurgen Klopp came in and helping the team strive towards being the mentality monsters that people refer to them as now," said Lallana.
"He still plays a pivotal role as vice-captain in setting an example for the younger lads, the next generation. He helps the management team in so many ways with the experience he's built up. He knows what it takes to win. He knows what sacrifices need to be made.
"I'm not sure how he got the boring James Milner label, but he couldn't be further away from that. He's one of the loudest in the dressing room for sure. Full of life. Full of banter.
"But he's definitely old school. Those basics are always there and they'll never change. I think that's what's made him who he is and given him his success. Those values that he'll always live by. He taught me how to be a better professional and a better role model."
Liverpool are hopeful Milner will be available for the trip to Tottenham at the weekend after he was forced off after a heavy blow to the head in Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League win against Napoli.
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