Overlooked contract decision
Jurgen Klopp’s contract has inevitably been the main talking point at Liverpool this week after the German penned a new two-year extension to commit his future to the Reds until 2026, briefly stealing attention away from the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in the process.
Normality was resumed on Friday, however, when the German was asked how much his Anfield stay would impact the two forwards’ decisions regarding their own futures ahead of their own contracts expiring in 2023. Now close to the final 12 months of their deals, along with Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, such talk is not going to away anytime soon for as long as their futures remain unresolved.
But there’s one contract decision that remains overlooked at Anfield - that of James Milner’s.
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The 36-year-old’s deal expires this summer and so far there has been no sign of an extension, despite Klopp publicly admitting he wants his vice-captain to stay put. As Liverpool chase an unprecedented quadruple, Milner could now find himself in the final weeks of his Anfield career.
Yet you wouldn’t have known he was an ageing midfielder with an uncertain future based on his performance against former club Newcastle, as Klopp handed him his first Premier League start since the Reds’ 2-2 draw at Chelsea in their first game of 2022.
Against the Magpies, Milner was exemplary as he led by example alongside Jordan Henderson and covered every blade of grass, mocking any suggestion that his legs were going in the process.
Only Virgil van Dijk could better his total of 60 passes, while his total of 73 touches was the joint-best on the pitch. Meanwhile, his six tackles, including the one in the build-up to Keita’s winner, was better than any Liverpool team-mate. To put it simply, as the Reds ground out victory, Milner was right in the thick of the action to get his team over the line. There’s life in the old dog yet.
Despite being 36, there is still a role for him to play at Anfield. With the Premier League introducing five substitutions next season, his game-time will surely increase.
If Milner wants to depart in search of starting football elsewhere, then he will go with Liverpool blessings. But with his manager’s own future now secured, you’d imagine Klopp would be even more keen for the Reds to retain the services of their ageless vice-captain.
Transfer messages clear
After signing his new contract in the week, Jurgen Klopp’s thinking had already turned to the upcoming summer transfer window with the Liverpool boss hopeful it would aid the Reds when it comes to attracting signings.
A look at his starting XI against Newcastle as he made five changes, and it was perhaps clear what business he might have in mind come the summer, even when considering his squad has never looked stronger.
A front three of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane was solid enough at St. James’ Park without finding a way past Martin Dubravka themselves. With the Colombian tasked with replacing Mohamed Salah on the right and the Senegalese back on the left, they were ultimately but not as deadly as the Salah x Mane x Diaz triumvirate has been in recent weeks.
And it was telling that Diaz instantly looked more comfortable following Salah’s introduction when switched back to the left, nearly setting up a goal and scoring himself within minutes. Liverpool are more dangerous with these inverted forwards, and while they have plenty of right-footed options vying to cut in from the left, the Egyptian King remains their only senior option suited to the opposing flank.
Meanwhile, Joe Gomez impressed again at right-back in place of Trent Alexander-Arnold, and put in more crosses than any of his team-mates with five. Yet the England international is still a centre-back playing at full-back. While he is a competent understudy, he will never be like-for-like.
Considering Salah and Alexander-Arnold are perhaps the two best players in the world in their respective positions, any understudy would face a tough ask living up to their high standards. But perhaps more natural reserves should be on the summer shopping list.
Elsewhere, even with Roberto Firmino out injured and Divock Origi out ill, there was no place on the bench for Takumi Minamino once again. Meanwhile, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the fourth player to miss out, confirming his place at the bottom of the midfield pecking order at this business end of the season. Linked with moves away, the writing appears to be on the wall for the duo.
Klopp proven right
Jurgen Klopp was always going to make changes for Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle United, coming in the middle of the Reds’ Champions League semi-final clash with Villarreal. But not many would have expected the extent to which he’d change his side up at St. James’ Park.
In came Joe Gomez, James Milner, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota and Joel Matip, out went Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate. Playing Newcastle in this troublesome 12.30pm kick-off, eyebrows were understandably raised amongst the Reds fanbase.
But the Liverpool manager knows exactly what he’s doing and knows his team better than no other. In truth, each of his decisions had paid off come the final whistle with Gomez, Milner and Keita in particular his side’s standout players.
Their performances up against rests for some of his most-used men, a win and a clean sheet in the harshest of turnarounds for Klopp’s side, and their trip to the North East couldn’t have gone much better.
With a trip to Newcastle also falling in between Liverpool’s last Champions League semi-final back in 2019, the German knew exactly how tough Saturday lunchtime’s game would be. Despite his previous complaints, the kick-off time remained untouched. And with that, his mind was made up to make mass changes.
Klopp admitted earlier this month that he doesn’t ask his players if they are fit enough to play, instead leaving the decision with his backroom staff to tell him when it’s time to make changes. Once again, such faith paid off as he was ultimately proven right.
After signing his new contract, the Reds boss spoke of the added stability his secured future will bring to his side and the club. Having been at Anfield since October 2015, it was in a pretty good state already.
Now signed up until 2026, Klopp’s knowledge of his squad is only set to increase. With the German at the helm, Liverpool will only go from strength to strength. Considering their current position already sees them challenging for a quadruple, make no mistake, their rivals should be worried.
