Why James Milner feels this season is 'a bit different'

Now 30, the Liverpool vice-captain has been part of many ambitious teams as they set out for success each August.

Before his move to the Reds last summer, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Manchester City had been able to call on Milner’s services during his decade-and-a-half at the top level.

The Englishman has featured in sides brimming with quality, most notably at previous club City as they won titles and competed in the Champions League, and therefore understands when a group of players are clicking.

And Milner believes there is evidence that is happening at Liverpool in the opening weeks of this campaign.

“I’ve been fortunate to play in a lot of good teams,” the No.7 told Liverpoolfc.com.

“The thing this team has is a lot of quality but the team spirit and togetherness of how we play. I think we play as a team probably better than any team I’ve been involved in, or as good as any other team I’ve played in.

“With and without the ball, people knowing their jobs, and getting around the ball and winning the ball back as a team as well.

“In the way we play, if one person doesn’t do it the whole system breaks down – both with and without the ball. Everyone has to be on the same page.”

Last season, Liverpool scored just five goals in their first seven matches.

That number has increased to 19 this term, with Jürgen Klopp’s charges claiming stylish victories over Arsenal, Leicester City and Chelsea as well as making easy work of progress in the EFL Cup.

Liverpool's Premier League stats so far

Milner said: “It does feel a bit different.

“With the manager coming in, it was hard for him to put his full stamp on it mid-season with so many games. He made some changes last season and made a few more in the summer and going forward in the regime and things like that.

“This is obviously more his stamp, he has made his signings.

“Last year when we were up and down, we had good performances where we were very good but then [on] the bad days we played very poorly.

“To be honest, I don’t think we’ve had a poor game this year really. We might have had spells where we dropped off slightly – it’s not easy to play at full tilt for 90 minutes – but in general the performances have all been pretty good.

“It’s how we want to play. You look at it and think ‘that was a performance from our team’.

“There were times last year where we looked brilliant one week and then the next week it didn’t look like the same sort of style of play.

“That comes down to obviously the manager and us being together longer, and the team being together longer and playing and working on how he wants to play more.”

Klopp was able to make seven changes to his starting XI against Derby County on Tuesday night and not see any drop in the level of performance or ruthlessness.

Ragnar Klavan’s opener quickly put paid to any chance of an upset and further goals from Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi comfortably set up a fourth-round tie at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Milner is buoyed by the competition for places and highlighted just how hard it will be for the manager to choose his side at times this season.

LFCTV GO: Behind the scenes at pre-Hull training

“If you look at the squad we have now as well, you’re talking about a team of 11 players, but look at the squad right the way through and the bench and even some of the boys who have been injured hopefully coming back,” he added.

“Joe Gomez has been out for such a long time, he is coming back. [It is] great to see [Danny] Ings out there.

“There is quality right the way through and if you do have a few injuries, there’s players coming in and you’re not really thinking the team is weakened at all.

“The style might change slightly with a different type of player but it definitely doesn’t get any weaker, and I think that’s a positive thing.

“This year it might be tough at times because we don’t have as many games as we would like without the European games, but it can only help us with the competition for places.

“With the training we’re doing and people performing day in, day out, it puts a lot of pressure on the manager.

“There have been times already this year and times coming up that I’m glad I don’t have to make the decisions the manager is going to have to make in picking the team.”