Liverpool turned over Cardiff City 2-0 in the Premier League last weekend with a thumping effort from Gini Wijnaldum and a professional penalty by James Milner.
The spot kick wasn’t without its controversy though – Mo Salah was fouled in the area and seemed to want to take it himself. The ‘Egyptian King’ approached the penalty area with the ball, but Milner took it from him.
This sparked a bit of debate on Twitter with a few fans thinking it was unfair of our number seven to do what he did.
https://twitter.com/arsenaliie/status/1120018170797088768
It’s a little odd to get wound up over something like this, individual awards don’t take priority over ensuring we see games out, but Klopp has weighed in on the matter.
“[Milner is] like a machine in these moments,” he’s quoted as saying by the Mirror. “He trains them and he is not the only one. Mo is getting better and better and better.
“[He] is experienced. He has had important penalty shoot-outs in his life. He [knows] it’s all about how you keep your body in the right position and the right technique and then done.
“He has also missed a penalty in a pretty important game if I’m right but he’s like a machine. He switches off all emotions and puts the ball in the net.”
I find it quite amusing how the boss described Milner as if he’s the Terminator, but he’s absolutely spot on. Mo may be alright at taking penalties under pressure – Egyptian fans know that – but he isn’t our first choice.
Klopp’s quotes suggest to me that Salah is being readied to take over Jimmy’s responsibility when the 33-year-old departs the club.