This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
On Wednesday, Liverpool midfielder James Milner led the team to a 2-0 League Cup win at MK Dons, earning praise from manager Juergen Klopp as an ideal role model for the club's young players.
Milner, 33, scored his first goal in the competition since 2010 and set up another for 17-year-old Dutchman Ki-Jana Hoever, drawing admiration from Klopp.
"This man is on fire, that's how it is. It helps a lot. He's a real role model for young players. If he could play every day, Millie would be like this every day... absolutely brilliant," Klopp said in a news conference.
With Liverpool set to face Arsenal in the fourth round, Klopp expressed his commitment to giving young players opportunities, naming four teenagers in the starting side.
"They all have the right environment so we will improve that environment as well, we will bring in more manpower there that we can really take care of these boys more," Klopp added.
For his part, Milner welcomed the competition for places, saying, "When you look at how good our squad is, it's not easy for the youngsters to get to the level they need to be, but they've shown they want to get better. Everyone is pushing and that's what the senior boys need: competition for places."
