Milner demands response to Reds 'blip'
James Milner wants Liverpool to do their talking on the pitch as they aim to respond to a 'blip' so far in 2019.
The Reds have suffered back-to-back defeats since the beginning of January, losing 2-1 to both Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The latter result, at Molineux on Monday night, saw Liverpool eliminated from the FA Cup in the third round.
Milner is confident the downturn in form will be short-lived but accepted the responsibility is with the players to guarantee that with actions rather than words.
“We have to make sure we bounce back and look at where we can get better,” said the vice-captain, with a trip to Brighton and Hove Albion up next this Saturday.
“You’re never going to go a full season without having blips. I think at the start of this season we weren’t playing our best but we were getting results.
“[It’s] back-to-back defeats now, which really isn’t good enough for us, but you have blips in a season. It’s about how you respond.
“I think you’ve seen the character in the squad in the last few years, and the players we have, to know we will bounce back.
“We have to show that, though. It’s easy saying it in an interview, we have to do it on the pitch at the weekend.
“The games keep coming thick and fast and hopefully we can get a few of the injured lads back as well.”
Liverpool fell behind to Wolves when Milner was caught in possession near the halfway line and Raul Jimenez raced away to sweep a finish past Simon Mignolet.
Divock Origi’s thump brought the Reds level six minutes into the second half, but Ruben Neves thrashed in what proved to be the winner moments later.
“When you’re a team like us, with the players we have, you want to win every single game,” said Milner.
“We’re disappointed to not win and go through. We want to progress in every game we play.
“There were changes but we all train together all the time. I think we just didn’t get going really, didn’t get the passing going, just weren’t quite at our level.
“It was always going to be a tough game; they’re a good team, well organised. It’s not an easy place to come, we knew that from the game a few weeks back.
“I should have done better. The pitch all night was a bit tricky and balls were a bit lively, but it’s the same for both teams.
“It wasn’t as easy to get the passing going in those tight areas as we would have liked, but it was my mistake for the first goal and it cost us ultimately. Without that maybe it’s 1-1 and we get a replay.”
Jürgen Klopp made nine changes to his starting XI at Molineux, with Rafael Camacho and Curtis Jones handed senior debuts.
An early injury to Dejan Lovren then enforced another switch – meaning a first appearance for defender Ki-Jana Hoever 11 days before his 17th birthday.
And Milner, who captained the team on the night, praised the recruit from Ajax for the way he handled the occasion amid difficult circumstances.
“On the plus side, I think it’s good for the young boys to come in and get that experience,” the midfielder added.
“It’s not good to taste defeat but you normally learn more in a defeat than you do in a win.
“Ki coming on and playing like he did was absolutely outstanding. He’s going to be a top, top player – you can see that straight away. His temperament, he’s comfortable on the ball.
“Rafa and Curtis as well, it was tough because it wasn’t the easiest game to get on the ball and get the passing going and get Curtis into the game as much with his dribbling, but you get those games, especially in the FA Cup.”