James Milner believes that Liverpool can still reach the Champions League next season

James Milner believes that Liverpool can still reach the Champions League next season after managing a brilliant 3-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield.

Milner scored against his former club, who have never won at this ground since the takeover from the Abu Dhabi owners, to help Liverpool climb to seventh in the table. Incredibly, the Champions League places look to be in the reach of the Merseyside club due to a combination of poor form to the teams above them. City have been able to win only two out of the last five league matches.

Manchester United have been unable to take advantage of this poor form as they have also managed a similar number of wins during this period. Liverpool, on the other hand, have now managed to win three games on the bounce. This has reduced the threat of Chelsea being able to overtake them in the table.

More importantly, it has put them within six points of the top four. Milner spent five years at City winning the league title and FA Cup amongst other trophies. But he chose to celebrate after scoring the second goal of the game. Milner immediately assumed the captain’s armband after joining Liverpool, but they do not appear to have affected his game.

The England international has returned seven goals and seven assists in 29 matches this season, which he puts down to a summer relaxing doing a Yacht Charter in Croatia.

This is an extremely good record for someone who came to the club as a free transfer. “We have a lot of games to go and a couple of big European games. Hopefully we can get through that so we have a lot still to play for this season. We were disappointed the other day (at Wembley) and that is one chance gone, but hopefully that will drive us on and give the boys hunger. We were that close and we all want to win silverware,” said Milner.