James Milner revealed that he is hoping to play in central midfield next season after being used as a utility man for the majority of his time at Manchester City. Of course that was the position filled by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, but the question is can the former Sky Blue fill the void left by LA Galaxy’s new star man?

Milner’s main reasons for swapping the Etihad for Anfield was, in his own words: “I want to play football and play more centrally if I can – and that’s where the manager said he sees me playing.

“What he said to me made me want to come and play for him straight away.”

The former Leeds youngster was no doubt a great utility player, but it looks clear now that Milner wants to establish himself in midfield as he enters his prime years, and nail down a permanent position on Merseyside.

The pressure will be on Milner to deliver, and the iconic ‘seven shirt’ weighing heavy on his shoulders won’t have gone unnoticed by the former Villa man. The expectations will be high for Milner to fill the boots of the departed Gerrard, and put his on stamp on the position.

Milner’s stamp, or trademark if you like, is his high-energy and industrious approach to his work, something he will add in abundance to the Reds’ midfield. However, that is not all that he is good at, and it would be doing the England man a disservice to say that that is all he will offer to the Liverpool midfield.

Milner has plenty to his game, he can score from distance, take free kicks, he is a good passer and his greatest skill, as mentioned, is the ability to do this over a sustained period with stamina and energy. He regularly clocks over seven miles covered in a game, surely a trait that will be heavily relied on at Liverpool.

He could well be the perfect component for Reds boss Brendan Rodgers’ style. The Northern Irishman demands high intensity pressing from his midfielders and Milner could well give a vital injection of energy to the midfield alongside the tireless Jordan Henderson to help Liverpool achieve the press they want.

But, as already touched upon, Milner is a complete midfielder,too. A view supported by City boss Manuel Pellegrini who said: “Find me a more complete English player.”

By complete, he means an all-round game – passing, shooting, heading, tackling and running for example. The former Villa man can do all of this well, as well as scoring his fair share of goals. Whilst his tally was five compared to Gerrard’s nine last season, his tally of seven assists compared to Gerrard’s one shows that Milner can make up for the drop off in goals through his creative abilities.

Milner won’t directly replace Gerrard and all he provided, but what the former City man will bring is a good quality player to the midfield. Someone who will excel in areas Gerrard perhaps didn’t and, importantly, complement the style Liverpool play.

He isn’t the replacement, he is a new man doing a different job in the same position, but he could fill the void in his own way.