Why James Milner Is the Liverpool Player with Most on Line After Internationals

A defeat immediately before an international break is never a good thing in football and Liverpool's loss to Crystal Palace was difficult to take—the Reds being the only side in the top half to lose on the weekend prior to 2015's final international fortnight.

While the result gives manager Jurgen Klopp plenty of food for thought—the first defeat of his opening month in charge—it leaves supporters looking at a league table with their side down in 10th place and facing a first game back after the internationals against top-of-the-table Manchester City.

Given the almost unprecedented injury list at Anfield, with no fewer than 10 first-team players currently sidelined, Klopp only has nine players away on international duty, per This Is Anfield.

The German will be hoping that a few of those injured players are able to recover over this fortnight and be back in the squad once the Premier League campaign returns.

One of those expected to return is captain Jordan Henderson, who has been missing since the second week of the season when he fractured a metatarsal in training the day after arriving back from having an injection in his foot in America.

Reports then, per Press Association Sport (via ESPN), claimed Henderson would be out for up to eight weeks. It's now eight weeks since the injury occurred, and the latest reports, per Paul Joyce of the Daily Express, suggest a return after the international break.

Henderson's return will be a welcome boost to Klopp, who has been dealt a rough hand with long-term injuries in his opening month in charge.

Henderson

Having Henderson available will also see a host of possibilities open up around the makeup of Liverpool's midfield.

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Last week, Klopp confirmed that the 25-year-old will continue as captain, per Kristian Walsh of the Liverpool Echo, saying: "I’ve met him, he’s an absolute leader and he’s in a good way at this moment, and we all hope he’s back in a few weeks."

That means Henderson's place in the side is assured.

The England international is one of the players you expect to prosper under Klopp at Anfield, with his high-energy and effective pressing game well suited to the new Liverpool manager's methods.

Henderson's two appearances so far this season, away to Stoke City and at home to Bournemouth, saw him deployed in an unfamiliar deeper midfield role by former manager Brendan Rodgers, which restricted Henderson's best attributes.

Last season, he registered an impressive 15 assists and seven goals in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, and you would expect Klopp to look to build on this.

Klopp's Midfield

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Thus far, Klopp has used a midfield three of Lucas Leiva, Emre Can and James Milner—each of his league games so far utilised this setup until the England international missed Sunday's defeat to Palace through injury.

This has seen Liverpool set up in a 4-3-2-1 shape, until the change to 4-2-3-1 against Palace with Milner out.

Henderson's return will leave Klopp with his three regulars from his opening month vying for either just one or two positions alongside Henderson, depending which system he opts to operate with.

Klopp's options with Henderson, as outlined by Jack Lusby for This Is Anfield, are:

• Replacing Milner in a 4-3-2-1.
• Joining Lucas and Milner in a 4-3-2-1, rotating Can.
• Alongside Lucas or Can in a 4-2-3-1.
• On the right of a 4-2-3-1.
• Partnering Milner as during pre-season.

Milner

It's Milner's place that, perhaps, comes under most threat here, with the former Manchester City midfielder being one who has received criticism from supporters in recent games.

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The 29-year-old has been guilty of giving away a lot of fouls under Klopp, perhaps failing to grasp the pressing game and often seen to be arriving late into a challenge.

Indeed, Milner is the player most affected by Klopp's arrival, having been assured of a central-midfield role upon signing for the club in the summer, per Sky Sports.

That guarantee disappeared when Rodgers left the club, and his role has subsequently changed with the new manager.

Klopp used the Englishman on the right of the midfield three in his first three league games in charge, and was certainly on the receiving end of the German's ire in the opening stages of the match at Chelsea, per Dominic King of the Daily Mail:

"

This is the most irritated Klopp has been during a game so far: Milner, Clyne and Can all been berated. Constant talking with his staff.

— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) October 31, 2015"

That game saw Milner withdrawn just after an hour, the first time he hadn't completed 90 minutes when starting this season. No favouritism exists any more.

Last week, at Rubin Kazan, Klopp opted for the 4-2-3-1 shape, and Milner was moved to the left of the three behind the forward—a role he operated in frequently with City, but which the player himself indicated was a reason behind his desire to move from the club.

Milner, after years of being the victim of his versatility, wanted an assured place in his preferred centre-midfield role.

"I want to play football and play more centrally if I can," he explained to Liverpool's official website upon his signing.

Options

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From being guaranteed that central role under Rodgers three months ago, Milner now finds that under threat, while Henderson's return could see his place in the starting XI in danger, too.

Much will depend on whether Klopp continues to play both Lucas and Can, with the latter perhaps replacing the former in the more holding role going forward.

However, Can has played a huge amount of football this calendar year, as explained by statistician Dan Kennett:

"

1/2 Since Emre Can broke into the LFC team on 29/12/14 he's played 4,445 mins for club & country, that's over 49 complete games

— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) November 10, 2015"

"

2/2 Emre Can at age 21 has played 4,445 minutes (with 2 months to go). Henderson played 3,772 minutes at the same age (2011/12 season)

— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) November 10, 2015"

The 21-year-old was an almost ever-present in the latter half of last season, and then for Germany at the European Under-21 Championships in the summer. And Can is now a regular fixture for both Liverpool and the German national side this season.

It could be that Klopp opts to rest or rotate his compatriot, with a regular midfield three of Lucas sitting and Henderson and Milner either side, providing the pressing and energy ahead.

But a poor run of games from the summer signing would see Klopp turn to Can and drop the Liverpool No. 7.

There's a lot on the line for Milner after the international break.