James Milner is enjoying one of the finest seasons of his long and illustrious career.
Switched back into central midfield from the left-back berth he excelled in last term, the 32-year-old has been a revelation in Liverpool's midfield.
He has only started 15 Premier League matches this term, making a further 16 as substitute, but his numbers are incredible. They suggest he will be involved against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Attacking initiator
Always looking to receive the ball before playing it forward, Milner has passed to a team-mate inside the final third more than any other Liverpool player.
And this despite being on the pitch for only 51 per cent of the season.
With an average of 23 successful passes entering the final third per 90 minutes, the Yorkshireman is ranked eighth in the competition.
Most succ. passers into final third (LIV)
| Player | Passes | Mins |
|---|---|---|
| Milner | 427 | 1673 |
| Henderson | 415 | 2051 |
| Salah | 394 | 2747 |
Wide outlet
Milner is also fantastic when venturing into wide areas.
Indeed he tops Liverpool’s list for the most accurate crosses and is 15th overall in the PL for successful crosses per 90.
Most accurate crossers (LIV)
| Player | Accurate crosses | Mins |
|---|---|---|
| Milner | 29 | 1673 |
| Salah | 26 | 2747 |
| Oxlade-Chamberlain | 17 | 1726 |
Marathon man
In the 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion, Milner covered an incredible 13.13km.
That figure was 1.58km further than anyone else at The Hawthorns that day.
Such numbers are not a one-off either. Milner is the most industrious player of 2017/18.
He not only leads the league for distance covered per 90 minutes but also for average speed.
Defensive linchpin
To complete his all-rounder tag, Milner is also a defensive linchpin.
Milner’s off-the-ball work adds steel to Jurgen Klopp’s midfield and his strength in the tackle stands out.
He is ranked eighth in the Premier League for the most tackles won per 90 and is successful in 77 per cent of his challenges.
Of the 10 most prolific tacklers in the league, only Emre Can and Idrissa Gueye can better that ratio.
Most tackles won (LIV)
| Player | Tackles won/90 | Tackles |
|---|---|---|
| Milner | 2.37 | 44 |
| Can | 2.32 | 54 |
| Gomez | 2.13 | 45 |
Such an ability to win the ball back, drive his side forward and play his side into dangerous attacking areas means Milner is a true unsung hero of this Liverpool side.
Also in this series
Part 1: Rice impressing with 'clean' art of defending
Part 2: Redmond adds to threat of Southampton
Part 4: Can Milner outrun Kante at the Bridge?
