Liverpool stalwart Milner gives classic reply over ‘exit door’ comment
James Milner has revealed how he’s more than happy to have a door named after him at Liverpool’s new £50million training complex in Kirby.
The Reds officially moved into their new state-of-the-art facility last Tuesday.
The AXA Training Centre replaces their previous day-to-day home, Melwood.
The new complex features three Anfield-sized pitches, a beach football area and tennis courts.
But less hi tech is a new addition, the ‘James Milner door’.
Speaking after the 3-0 win over Leicester, the midfield veteran revealed he’d suggested the idea as a joke. But, to his surprise, the builders delivered on it.
Milner explained: “Basically, when the plans were made – we said there should be a door there, me and Hendo, because the route was a strange set-up, so they put a door there.
“They decided to try and be funny and name it after me. It’s wooden hinges, so it’s not a statue or a stand, but a door at Liverpool will do me.”
Asked if it could be viewed as an exit door, the 34-year-old quipped: “Hopefully it’s not. Maybe that was Eddie’s plan, hopefully, it’s not the exit door he was hinting at. Hopefully, I’ll be here a bit longer than that.”
Milner gains plaudits over Leicester display
Milner showed there’s plenty of life in him yet with an excellent performance against Leicester.
The former England star was given a ‘9’ out of 10 by the Liverpool Echo in their Player Ratings.
They wrote: “Lack of pace understandably exposed early on at right-back but willing runner forward and corner delivery led to two goals. Even better when pushed into midfield after Keita’s departure, and vocal throughout.”
This Is Anfield awarded him ‘8’ out of 10.
They gave the following assessment. “Milner was preferred to Neco Williams at right-back, with his vast experience presumably working in his favour.
“The veteran was superb at Anfield, threading a number of beautiful passes into dangerous positions, much in the way Trent Alexander-Arnold does.
“Defensively, Milner was also secure, considering he had the blistering pace of James Justin and Harvey Barnes to deal with.”