Liverpool’s ‘Milner at left-back’ move is genius or terrible, depending who you ask

It seems pretty clear that Jurgen Klopp needed to do *something* after Alberto Moreno's performance against Arsenal.

It's not every week that an opponent will miss a penalty and give you the opportunity to score four goals away from home, so a greater defensive solidity for the trip to Burnley seemed essential to even the most optimistic Reds fan. The only issue facing Klopp was the lack of another natural left-back. Emre Can was used there on occasion last season, while another past option - Jon Flanagan - will be at the game but in the Burnley camp, having joined Sean Dyche's team on loan. There is a solution, or at least the manager thinks he's found one: utility man James Milner. The former England international - who retired from Three Lions duty earlier in the summer - has played in most other positions, so why not at left-back?

The move has been met with scepticism

https://twitter.com/TVsCarlKinsella/status/766989496978026496

Muffled embarrassment

https://twitter.com/chrs00/status/766985681490935809

And acknowledgement that sure, it's a thing, but why?

https://twitter.com/TheM_L_G/status/766983237230927872

But plenty of Liverpool supporters do seem genuinely pleased with the decision to put literally anyone but Moreno Milner there.

https://twitter.com/tomrowelfc/status/766984189208039425 https://twitter.com/TomHolmes19/status/766983243505598464 https://twitter.com/LFCAdam88_18_5/status/766985629204881408

There's some recognition that Liverpool aren't in an ideal situation, however, and we sense people won't be happy if this is still Klopp's plan of action after the close of the transfer window.

https://twitter.com/reverse_ball/status/766987445401300992 https://twitter.com/DHardayal/status/766986136967315457 Read more