James Milner insists the League Cup is 'a major honour' as Manchester City aim to leapfrog Liverpool into final

James Milner has declared that Manchester City have set their sights on beating Liverpool and progressing into the League Cup final with the aim of winning what he sees as a "major honour".

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It has been suggested by some that the Premier League leaders do not see the competition as a priority but the midfielder insists that the club are intent on overcoming their 1-0 first-leg deficit on Wednesday night at Anfield.

“We will be going there to get the result we need to take us to Wembley,” Milner told the club’s official website.

“The [League] Cup is a major honour, make no mistake about it. People talk about it being a lesser trophy for some reason, but it is big and in truth any trophy is important.”

The former Aston Villa man admitted that being knocked out of the FA Cup by rivals Manchester United was a blow to the City squad but hopes that they can use it to their advantage.

“It was a big disappointment not being able to defend our trophy but if there is a plus side to being out of the FA Cup, it is that we have a free weekend coming up,” he added.

“That means we can freshen up the legs a bit more after playing every three days or so like we have been.

“It is all about keeping the momentum going. We are coming to the end of January and we are still going well.

"It shows the strength in depth we have and the quality in the squad also. We’ve had injuries and suspensions to contend with and have players at the Africa Cup of Nations as well.

“Yet we are still managing to win games. The competition for places is fierce, which is what you need to be successful.”

When asked about his impressive form for the club this season, Milner put it down to a collective effort by the side and a new role given to him by manager Roberto Mancini.

“Maybe the position I am in is slightly different at the moment. I am playing a bit deeper than I’m used to. I have been a bit more disciplined positionally, trying to hold the midfield with Gareth [Barry],” he explained.

“We are allowing the full-backs to bomb on, really. It is a bit different, but it is whatever is best for the team. That is the main thing. That’s what comes first.

“As long as Manchester City are winning and we are sending the fans home happy, that’s all we want. It’s a good feeling to give them something to shout about and we’ll be hoping to do the same again at Liverpool.”