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| Milner now wears the captain's armband with Jordan Henderson out injured at Liverpool |
JAMES MILNER could end up having the last laugh on those who argued he was turning his back on trophies by leaving Manchester City.
Milner believes if Jurgen Klopp's resurgent Liverpool team can replicate their stunning away form at Anfield then they can still put a silver lining on a season of transition.
They will draw enormous self-belief from inflicting title favourites City's heaviest home defeat since they moved to the Etihad Stadium in 2003 - following a 3-1 win at Chelsea and draws at Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton.
The way Liverpool, spearheaded brilliantly by Brazilian pair Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho, ripped apart City's shambolic defence was reminiscent of the display by Klopp's exciting Borussia Dortmund team in 2012 when only eight world-class saves from Joe Hart and a dodgy last minute penalty by Mario Balotelli salvaged a 1-1 Champions League draw for City.
Three years on and they again had no answer to the same high-pressing, high-intensity, tactics and had Hart to thank once more for three brilliant saves to prevent even greater embarrassment.
It was the perfect return for Milner, whose personal performance over-shadowed the player who went in the other direction in the summer, Raheem Sterling. But it is not in his nature to gloat - Milner is just excited by Liverpool's upturn under Klopp.
"Look at the results we've had at City, Chelsea and other top teams away and they're pretty solid," he said. "At home, it's different. Teams come and sit back and it's a different game so we need to improve on that side.
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| Milner won two league titles at the Etihad, but could never be sure of a starting lineup place |
"We are capable of that and if we can get it right at home then I don't think we'll be too far away. When you come here and win it shows the quality we have and should give us a lot of confidence."
Milner says although Klopp insists on high-energy physical approach, he wants them to have cool, clinical minds when they have possession.
"He wants a reaction when we lose that ball and wants to get after it quickly," he said. "He wants us to be calm as well. It's one thing going after the ball at 100 miles an hour but when you win it you have to be calm and play and be that bit more patient which we can do better at times.
"He'll tell you if you're not doing the right things and that helps. He's in the game and you know he's there with you. He wants you to do well. He knows you're going to make mistakes and you'll get a rocket but he'll come up to you after and say, 'Well done'. He's different to the old manager but the longer we're together the better we'll get."
Klopp, though, is anxious to rein in expectation. When asked if his team could yet win the title, he smiled: "Look, only two weeks ago we lost to Palace at home. I can't say that we are good enough but if you want to write it you can."
And a worry for Liverpool is the hamstring injury that forced Coutinho off in the second half. He will have a scan on Monday amid fears he could be out for several weeks.
This humiliation underlined once again that City are simply not the same without skipper Vincent Kompany.
All three of their League defeats this season have come when he has been missing. In the eight games he has started, they have conceded just one goal. In the five he has missed they have shipped 12.
Kompany's absence was compounded by Pellegrini's decision to leave his other first choice centre back Nicolas Otamendi, plus in-form midfielder Fernandinho, on the bench after their midweek international action in South America.
Against opponents less razor-sharp than Liverpool, City might have got away with it but Martin Demichelis, whose only other Premier League start this season was the 4-1 defeat at Tottenham, and Elaiquim Mangala, who had not started in the League for a month, simply could not cope with the pace and pressure of their opponents.
As a furious City manager Manuel Pellegrini pointed out they were not the only culprits. Yaya Toure was so out of touch that he was humiliatingly hooked at half-time for the first time in his City career and the repercussions of that decision remain to be seen.
But City need to show in Turin on Wednesday this was an embarrassing blip rather than the start of something more serious.
Man City (4-2-3-1): Hart 8; Sagna 4, Demichelis 4, Mangala 4, Kolarov 4; Toure 4 (Fernandinho 46, 6), Fernando 5; Navas 4 ((Delph 46, 6), De Bruyne 6, Sterling 5; Aguero 6 (Iheanacho 66, 5).
Goal: Aguero 44.
NEXT UP: Juventus (a), Weds CL (a).
Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet 6; Clyne 7, Lovren 6, Skrtel 7, Moreno 6; Milner 7, Lucas 6, Can 7; Lallana 7 (Toure 90), Firmino 8 (Benteke 77, 5), Coutinho 9 (Ibe 68, 6).
Booked: Clyne, Lucas, Can.
Goals: Mangala og 7, Coutinho 23, Firmino 32, Skrtel 81.
NEXT UP: Bordeaux (h), Thur EL.
Referee: J. Moss (Yorks).
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