Jurgen Klopp’s skill as a psychologist generally involves getting into his players’ heads. When he had submitted his team, however, he showed an understanding of the wider world and anticipated the reaction of everyone else, of the Liverpool fans and the neutrals alike. “James Milner – come on, how many people thought ‘oh no, Milner v Foden’?” he asked. It was Phil Foden, who tormented Milner at Anfield last season; Phil Foden, who scored a hat-trick in a Manchester derby two weeks earlier; Phil Foden, a generational talent against a man from another generation, a player who faced David Seaman when he first took on Manchester City. The menu at Anfield seemed to consist of Milner on toast.
But, after spending 100 minutes out of position against the team Klopp believes is the best in the world, Milner had become part of the first defence to shut out a team with Erling Haaland this season. It is not in Milner’s nature to complain and perhaps that means he is likelier to be landed with thankless tasks.
