---
title: "Liverpool: Stuart Pearce full of praise for ‘sensational professional’ James Milner"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-stuart-pearce-full-of-praise-for-sensational-professional-james-milner/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Features"
published: "2019-10-23T07:25:31Z"
modified: "2019-10-23T07:25:31Z"
---

# Liverpool: Stuart Pearce full of praise for ‘sensational professional’ James Milner

**Liverpool midfielder James Milner has been described as a “sensational professional” by his former manager Stuart Pearce, [under whom he played for with the England under-21s](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/nationalmannschaft/spieler/3333/verein_id/9565/plus/0?hauptwettbewerb=&wettbewerb_id=&trainer_id=2090&start=Mar+30%2C+2004&ende=Jun+29%2C+2009&nurEinsatz=0).**

Speaking to [talkSPORT](https://talksport.com/radioplayer/live/index.html?interstitial=true), Pearce commended the 33-year-old’s attitude and willingness to clock substantial running distances and adapt to any position where he is asked to play.

Pearce told [talkSPORT](https://talksport.com/radioplayer/live/index.html?interstitial=true) \[[via Anfield Watch](https://www.anfieldwatch.co.uk/stuart-pearce-sums-james-milner-up-perfectly/)\]: “He’s one of the best I’ve ever worked with. Three words that I would \[use to\] describe him: resilient, professional and relentless. I think that sums Milly up.

“He covers 12, 13 kilometres a game, so I think somewhere in the midfield three \[is his position\]. But if you asked him to play anywhere, he’d go on the pitch and play anywhere for you. Sensational professional.”

When analysing Milner’s Liverpool career as a whole, Pearce is correct to highlight the tremendous versatility of the Reds veteran.

This season, he has featured mostly as a central midfielder, where Pearce feels he is strongest, but he filled in at left-back in the Carabao Cup win at MK Dons last month, scoring one goal and setting up another that night. \[[via TransferMarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/leistungsdaten/spieler/3333)\]

In his 188 appearances for Liverpool, Milner has played across the full width of midfield, as well as in a defensive midfield role and in both full-back positions. \[[via TransferMarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3333/verein/31)\]

His adaptation to positions other than central midfield hasn’t purely been on a stop-gap basis, either – while he has featured in the centre of midfield 93 times, he has also played 42 times as a left-back, with the vast majority of those coming throughout the 2016/17 season. \[[via TransferMarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3333/verein/31)\]

The 33-year-old has also played right midfield 21 times for Liverpool and 12 times on the left-hand side of midfield, in addition to a brief spell at right-back during the first two months of 2019. \[[via TransferMarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-milner/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/3333/verein/31)\]

His ability to play in either full-back role in particular could yet prove crucial for the Reds this season, given their paucity of resources in those positions.

Andrew Robertson is the [only senior left-back in Jurgen Klopp’s first team squad](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-liverpool/kadernachposition/verein/31), while there is currently [no senior right-back replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-liverpool/kadernachposition/verein/31) given the [long-term injury to Nathaniel Clyne](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/07/24/liverpools-nathaniel-clyne-ruled-six-months-suffering-cruciate/), although Joe Gomez [has experience of playing in that position](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joe-gomez/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/256178).

Milner has willingly adapted to a plethora of roles within this Liverpool team, as Pearce has rightfully stated.

\[freshpress-poll id=”251392″\]

***Liverpool fans, would you agree with Pearce’s views on Milner? Tell us what you think in the comments section below!***