Can Milner outrun Kante at the Bridge?

Talking Tactics

Two energetic midfielders will go head-to-head when Chelsea host Liverpool. Adrian Clarke analyses their stats

When you consider his qualities James Milner could be described as Liverpool’s answer to Chelsea's N’Golo Kante.

This season’s displays have been so all-consuming that, like Kante, he is akin to two central midfield players rolled into one. 

Cruising speed

Consistently running his opponents to a standstill, Milner leads the Premier League for distance covered per 90 minutes and also for average speed.

By comparison, Kante, a player famed for his coverage, is rated 23rd (11.4km) and 20th (7.2km/h) in those same categories.

So provided Wednesday night’s UEFA Champions League semi-final has not taken too much out of him, Milner has what it takes to win the physical battle with his Frenchman adversary at Stamford Bridge.

Most distance covered/90min
2017/18 Club Km
Milner LIV 13.16
Gosling BOU 13.05
Ward-Prowse SOU 12.64
Highest average speed/90min
2017/18 Club Km/h
Milner LIV 8.04
Gosling BOU 7.99
Gross BHA 7.97
Midfield block

Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum work well alongside Milner, forging a powerful triumvirate, so a big performance from Kante will be required to counter the Red machine.

The 27-year-old has missed the kind of physical support Nemanja Matic supplied in Chelsea’s last title-winning campaign, and has to shoulder more responsibility alongside Cesc Fabregas and/or Tiemoue Bakayoko.

Chasing a third successive victory at Chelsea, it is a Milner-inspired Liverpool who appear favourites to win the key midfield battle.

Also in this series 

Part 1: Rice impressing with 'clean' art of defending
Part 2: Redmond adds to threat of Southampton
Part 3: Unsung Milner the driving force for Liverpool