COMMENTARY
As a team famous for coming back from 3-0 down in 45 minutes in the Champions League, Liverpool would have held out hope of doing it in 90 minutes against Barcelona on Tuesday night. Things started exactly as the Reds would have liked against the Catalan giants as they took an early lead at Anfield, but it was not all smooth sailing for the home side, who are also chasing the Premier League title. One man in particular who took the brunt of the fans’ frustrations in the first half was James Milner, the English veteran appearing to struggle with the breakneck pace of the clash. The Anfield faithful made that very clear on Twitter, with some urging that he was replaced by Georginio Wijnaldum at half time, if not before. To be fair to Milner, there are very few players who can manage to deal with the pace of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi up front with any sort of ease but he certainly was not showing the best form he has had. Maybe Jurgen Klopp would have been wise to slot someone with a bit more mobility and dynamism, rather than relying on experience, in the centre of the pitch in order to control the game. You cannot afford passengers at this level and Milner was close to falling under that particular umbrella of performance.
This is Futbol has gathered a selection of the supporters’ tweets:
https://twitter.com/CousinCAH/status/1125842348771094530
Milner is a major liability out there
— Main Event J (@BIackJohn) May 7, 2019
Get Milner off
— Geralt of Rivia ?? (@Mush__H) May 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/AdnPaiLaynLFC/status/1125842759628283905
Get Milner OFF! All over the place. #Experience ?
— Apotheosis of Anhedonia (@keswickbro) May 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/LFCTikiTaka/status/1125842575276085250
https://twitter.com/_Syriana_/status/1125842552089980928
https://twitter.com/LFCJosh23/status/1125842538957615104