Dani Alves names Liverpool midfielder as the “most annoying” player he’s come up against

Industrious, professional, determined.

These are all terms that you'd use to describe Liverpool's James Milner. But it was another word that came to mind for Dani Alves when he was asked to name the toughest opponent he's come up against. The Barcelona full-back was speaking to The Times about former manager Pep Guardiola's move to the Premier League in the summer when he revealed Milner was the "most annoying" opponent he's faced. "I have faced many, but the most annoying was James Milner," Alves said. “He follows you forward and follows you backwards. It’s very difficult because he attacks you and defends you, and then attacks you and defends you again.” https://twitter.com/BoringMilner/status/694996431929753604 In the same interview, the Brazilian was glowing in his praise for former boss Guardiola, who will take the hot-seat at the Etihad at the end of the season.

"His secret is he gets you to see things differently," Alves said. "He is a football Einstein.

"For him it's a change and that's what he likes. Guardiola likes to move to places where he can make a revolution.

"I have no doubt that he is going to achieve it because he is a freak of football."