James Milner scored the winner as Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool secured their eighth Premier League win of the season on Saturday.
Brendan Rodgers has paid tribute to the ‘absolutely brilliant’ James Milner after his 95th-minute penalty secured a dramatic win for Liverpool against Leicester City on Saturday, in quotes reported by the Liverpool Echo.
Deep into stoppage time, it looked like the Reds’ winning run at the start of the new Premier League season was set to come to an end with Rodgers coming back to haunt his old employers at Anfield.
But, with almost the last kick of the game, the ever reliable Milner fired home from the spot after Sadio Mane had been knocked to the ground by the most clumsy of Marc Albrighton challenges.
The former Newcastle, Aston Villa and Manchester City midfielder just doesn’t miss from the spot and Rodgers, who signed Milner on a free in June 2015, had no doubt about the end result when the veteran stepped up from 12 yards.
“He was brilliant. Then you see what he has done. He has played at left-back, he has played in midfield. He is just a top class professional and he has done absolutely brilliant for the club,” said Rodgers, speaking warmly of one of his most inspired signings.
“And I dreaded the penalty! Knowing he is on the pitch... He is very cool and calm – and he doesn’t miss. He tucked it away, even with that pressure.”
At 33 and with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, it is testament to Milner’s remarkable attitude and professionalism that he still has a huge part to play at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp is a massive fan and, if the German got his way, Milner would sign a new long term deal tomorrow.
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