Garth Crooks reacts to James Milner’s display in Liverpool win

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Garth Crooks has told BBC Sport that James Milner vindicated Jurgen Klopp’s decision to pick him over Andrew Robertson for Liverpool’s win over Bournemouth on Saturday, and labelled his clearance during the second-half heroic.

Milner was making his first appearance in the Premier League since mid-February. Meanwhile, Robertson was taken out of the lineup having already made 42 appearances for the club in all competitions this term.

Ultimately, it was Liverpool who got the three points. The Reds came from behind to beat the Cherries 2-1. However, Eddie Howe’s men came agonisingly close to bagging an equaliser.

Ryan Fraser’s effort looked to be heading in. But Milner produced a miraculous clearance as he raced back to the line, just managing to hook the ball away at the final opportunity.

And Crooks felt compelled to put Milner in his Team of the Week, and lauded the clearance.

“Bournemouth started the weekend in the bottom three and by the end of it they were still there – thanks to James Milner,” he told BBC Sport. “The Liverpool captain was heroic as he produced what was arguably the clearance of the season.

“I said after Liverpool’s defeat against Watford that the Reds could not afford to be without Jordan Henderson and Milner at the same time and so it proved. Milner was also responsible for a headed clearance that stopped Nathan Ake, who had another impressive performance, from stealing a point.”

It is remarkable how Milner continues to make such an important impact at the highest level. The 34-year-old will surely go down as one of the Reds’ best ever signings having arrived on a free transfer.

He rarely lets Klopp down regardless of the role he is deployed in.

Milner may not grab as many headlines as a number of his teammates, but there is no question that he has been a hugely significant player in Liverpool’s recent history.