JAMES MILNER believes lifting the Capital One Cup would instil the "winning habit" back into Liverpool and lay the foundations for the club to push on to greater heights under Jurgen Klopp.
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| Liverpool's James Milner won five trophies with Manchester City, including a League Cup triumph |
The midfielder drew on previous experience by claiming the belief Manchester City gleaned from winning silverware in 2011 paved the way for further success and urged Liverpool to try and replicate that.
Liverpool reached the final at Wembley on February 28 after a shoot-out success over Stoke masked another poor performance at Anfield, with the visitors forcing penalties following Marko Arnautovic's first-half goal.
Milner accepted the need to iron out the glaring inconsistencies that remain a feature of their make-up, but said the importance of standing on the brink of winning a trophy could not be under-estimated.
"We've given ourselves a good start," said Milner. "We're in the final. We're in all the other competitions. Winning the FA Cup (at City) gave us the belief that we could go and win trophies.
"The first one is always important; to have that winning habit, to get over the line. The first one gave us the belief to go and win the league the next year. We're in a final and it's one step further than we got last year. It's pleasing.
"This club is built on success. They're used to winning trophies. We've got a lot of improving to do as well. If we can do that, it should be exciting times at the club.
"The bottom line is we're in every competition still. We're not a million miles off in the league. With a few more points and a few more goals, we'll be in a closer position. With a strong finish, we can be in a reasonable position.
"To say that we're a long way from where we want to be considering the results we've ground out, we can be proud at this moment in time.
"You hope it is the right decision and you don't look back," he said. "That is what I have done. The fact is we have got to the first cup final this season and I've played a lot of football, I am enjoying my time immensely.
"I was in a fortunate position because whichever decision I had made I would have been happy. I had two amazing football clubs to choose from and so I was very lucky.
"But this is a completely different challenge, different club and a different squad. I still think there is a lot more to come from me. It is tough changing clubs.
"It does seem to take time. It is a big change. You are playing with different players and everything is new. I don't think I have hit the levels I want to achieve and I know I can, but I will keep working hard and hopefully my best form will come and the fans will see the best of me.
"It is a new challenge and to be in a cup final is amazing. Like I said when I came here, it is not just about playing games. I want to win trophies."
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