James Milner admits that Liverpool “have to get over the line” in their ongoing efforts to land major silverware, with trophies “expected” at Anfield.
A glittering history dictates that Reds followers enter any given campaign confident that their side will be in the mix for top honours.
It has, however, been six years since a last success was toasted, with Kenny Dalglish overseeing a League Cup triumph in 2012.
Jurgen Klopp has made three finals during his tenure, while being backed in the transfer market, and Milner concedes that the time has come for a star-studded side to deliver.
He told Premier League productions: “A club like Liverpool is used to winning trophies, it’s expected. It’s something we expect as a squad and individuals; we all came here because we want to win trophies and be part of that.
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“It has been pleasing to get to three finals, and two of those European finals, since I’ve been at the club but you have to get over the line ultimately and it doesn’t matter if you don’t.
“Those experiences are going to stand us in good stead hopefully for finals to come, going through that together and those experiences. The more finals you get to, not only do your chances go up of winning one, but you get that experience of being there. And you know how it feels to lose, ultimately.
“So next time you go there, hopefully there’s less pressure on you. As a team, getting to those finals has helped but we have to get over the line in one sooner rather than later.”
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Milner has savoured success at his former clubs, having lifted two Premier League titles with Manchester City.
At 32 years of age he is now a veteran performer in Klopp’s ranks and faces added competition for places following the summer of arrivals of Fabinho and Naby Keita.
He did, however, impress during a 4-0 season opening win over West Ham and is determined to see regular minutes throughout 2018-19.
The former England international added: “I think I missed one game last year through injury and that was the last [league] game of the season. The body is definitely holding up.
“I feel very good and very fit – I want to play every single game. Obviously that’s not going to happen, I’m sure, and you need to rotate to be successful with the amount of games we have. And with the quality that’s in the squad, I’m sure that’s going to happen.
“But as long as I’m performing every time I step onto the field and making it as difficult as possible for the manager to leave me out of the side, I can’t do any more than that.
“The biggest thing for me is that I want to be successful at Liverpool: to win trophies and for me to be a part of that and contribute to that.”
