---
title: "Liverpool: James Milner available for Norwich clash"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-james-milner-and-sadio-mane-available-for-norwich-clash/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2019-08-09T14:55:22Z"
modified: "2019-08-09T14:55:22Z"
---

# Liverpool: James Milner available for Norwich clash

**Liverpool have been given a boost with the news that James Milner and Sadio Mane will be available for inclusion in tonight’s Premier League season opener against newly-promoted Norwich at Anfield.**

[![Premiership Picks](https://cdn.footballleagueworld.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Premiership-Picks-Desktop.png)](https://premierpicks.uk/)

[BBC](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49201578) reported that the Senegal forward is available despite a curtailed pre-season following his [involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48959714).

Also, according to [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49201578), veteran midfielder Milner has recovered from the muscle strain that [ruled him out of last weekend’s Community Shield clash](https://metro.co.uk/2019/08/04/liverpool-boss-jurgen-klopp-provides-james-milner-injury-update-manchester-city-defeat-10517616/) against former club Manchester City.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Despite being the [oldest member of Liverpool’s squad](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-liverpool/startseite/verein/31), Milner, who is valued at £13.5m ([by Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/profil/spieler/3333)), remains an influential presence in Jurgen Klopp’s team, making [45 appearances last season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3333) in which he [scored seven goals and provided seven assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3333) (0.16 per game).

Although [five of those goals were penalties](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/alletore/spieler/3333), the midfielder’s contributions were significant, with three points gained from his strike in a [1-1 draw at Arsenal](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/alletore/spieler/3333) and a [late penalty winner at Fulham](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/alletore/spieler/3333). He also struck from the spot to [settle a tense game at Cardiff](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/alletore/spieler/3333) in the title run-in.

In the Champions League, his [penalty in the 3-2 home win against Paris Saint-Germain](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/alletore/spieler/3333) ultimately made a massive difference. Without the two extra points it helped to gain, Liverpool [would not have even qualified from their group](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/champions-league/spieltag/pokalwettbewerb/CL/saison_id/2018/gruppe/C), let alone gone on to win the competition.

It isn’t just in terms of his goal contributions that Milner makes a discernible impact for the Reds, either.

He won [two tackles per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/26/Archive/England-Liverpool) last season, a figure [bettered by only three of his team-mates](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/26/Archive/England-Liverpool). One of those was [Naby Keita](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/26/Archive/England-Liverpool), who had [two successful tackles in the Community Shield](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1373296/Live/England-Community-Shield-2018-2019-Liverpool-Manchester-City). Liverpool’s three starting midfielders – [Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1373296/Live/England-Community-Shield-2018-2019-Liverpool-Manchester-City), had [one each](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1373296/Live/England-Community-Shield-2018-2019-Liverpool-Manchester-City).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

The returns of Milner and Mane should offer much encouragement to Klopp ahead of tonight’s Premier League opener.

Milner has shown that he can make decisive contributions to Liverpool, [scoring 16 of the 18 penalties he has taken for the Reds](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/elfmetertore/spieler/3333), as well as being a tough-tackling presence in the centre of midfield, [from where he made 20 of his 31 league appearances last season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3333/plus/0/saison/2018/wettbewerb/GB1/verein/31), so his return provides Liverpool with a big boost.

***Liverpool fans, do you think Milner and Mane should start tonight if they are fit to play? Join in the discussion by commenting below!***