James Milner backs ex-Liverpool star for manager's job amid Mohamed Salah claim

James Milner has been looking back over his career after breaking the Premier League appearances record, with one of his former teammates backed to move into management

James Milner has tipped one of his former Liverpool teammates for a move into management(Image: Getty Images)

James Milner has tipped one of his former Liverpool teammates to make the move into management.

Milner of course made history at the weekend as he broke the Premier League record for the most appearances in the competition. The midfielder moved past another of his former teammates, Gareth Barry, as he played his 654th game in Brighton’s win over Brentford.

The majority of those appearances were made for the Reds, with Milner having made 230 appearances during his time at Anfield from 2015 to 2023 - a period which also saw him win the Premier League title in 2020, as well as the Champions League the year before.

Milner struck up close friendships with the likes of Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson, both of whom paid tribute to the 40-year-old after he wrote his name into the history books on Saturday, as well as Adam Lallana, who he would link back up with at Brighton.

Lallana retired from playing last summer and is currently serving as Southampton’s interim U21s head coach, and Milner has tipped his former midfield partner to make the step up to senior management.

Asked during a quickfire Q&A with Sport Bible which of his former teammates would become a future manager, Milner responded: “Adam Lallana.

"He’s really dived into his coaching. He hasn’t been finished that long but loves it, loves the game and is very knowledgeable."

James Milner and Adam Lallana during their time at Liverpool(Image: Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Lallana wasn’t the only past or present Liverpool player to get a mention from Milner as he looked back over his career.

Asked who the fastest player was, he chose Mohamed Salah, while Philippe Coutinho was named as the most skillful and Henderson as the best communicator.

Divock Origi also got a shoutout, although perhaps not for the reason he might have been hoping for, with Milner naming him as the player most likely to forget his passport, having revealed the Liverpool players brought in fines after the striker was caught out on a number of occasions.

Liverpool.com says: Hopefully Lallana goes on to forge a successful career in management. He is still very much in his early days as a coach, but it will be interesting to see how he gets on at Southampton.

Milner’s interview of course brings back happy memories of that brilliant Jurgen Klopp side that went on to become European, world and Premier League champions.

It’s crazy to think that was almost six years ago now, and that only Salah, Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and Joe Gomez remain these days.