Milner chose Alisson Becker as the best goalkeeper he’s ever played alongside, praising his all-around skills and impact on the team.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was selected as the right-back, with Milner recognising his potential and achievements at such a young age.
Milner’s choice of Jonathan Woodgate as a center-back over other top defenders shows his high regard for the defender, despite his injury troubles.
James Milner has had a wonderful football career. The Englishman broke through to Leeds’ first team at the age of just 16 in 2002. He went on to play for Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool, while also representing his country on 61 occasions. Now in the twilight of his career, he is still going strong at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Milner has played alongside so many world-class players during his illustrious playing career, but who does he think are the best players he has ever played alongside? The Englishman named his ‘perfect XI’ of teammates, both past and present, in an interview with FourFourTwo in 2020. So many legends feature, while a plethora of talent also misses out. View who he selected below…
GK: Alisson Becker
Played with Milner at: Liverpool
Milner had the pleasure of playing alongside Alisson Becker from 2018-2023. The Brazilian has been tremendous during his time at Liverpool, and he has already cemented himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Premier League history. Speaking about his choice to include Alisson, Milner said:
“Nigel Martyn at Leeds was certainly the best shot-stopper I played with, and Joe Hart was brilliant at Manchester City. But Alisson has got it all. Coming into a new squad and a new country isn’t easy, but he made us a better team. He’s a bit too good-looking, though. We all avoid being pictured next to him!”
David Raya and Alisson both feature among the 20 best goalkeepers in the Premier League right now.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Played with Milner at: Liverpool
There may be questions over Alexander-Arnold’s defensive capabilities, but what he offers going forward is just extraordinary. Not many players in his position have the ability to step into a midfield role and control the game in the way the Englishman has started to do for club and country. Milner was full of praise for the former Liverpool full-back, saying:
“Gary Kelly, Luke Young, Micah Richards, Glen Johnson: all great right-backs, but I see Trent becoming a great footballer and that’s why he gets the nod over the other four. That said, what he’s already achieved is so impressive.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool Statistics
Appearances
Goals
Assists
354
23
92
CB: Jonathan Woodgate
Played with Milner at: Leeds United, England
A surprising choice, given Milner also played alongside the likes of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Vincent Kompany. Woodgate played for the likes of Leeds, Newcastle, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur in his career, while he also made eight appearances for his country. The pair were teammates in Milner’s younger years, but he was still full of compliments for his ex-colleague, stating:
“Woody was exceptional at Leeds and so unlucky with injuries, but before that we all thought he was a superstar. Put it this way: I’m leaving both Rio Ferdinand and Vincent Kompany out of my side, which shows just how much I thought of him.”
Jonathan Woodgate’s Leeds and England Statistics
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Leeds United
139
5
3
England
8
0
0
CB: Virgil van Dijk
Played with Milner at: Liverpool
Again, the English midfielder has lined up alongside a vast array of talented centre-backs, but one of the more recent names made it into the XI. Virgil van Dijk was colossal for Liverpool at the height of their success under Jürgen Klopp. In Milner’s final season at Anfield, the Dutch defender suffered a dip in the lofty performance levels he had previously set himself, but this did occur after the former Reds’ vice-captain had selected his team. It is unlikely that his mind would have been changed based on the way he spoke of his former teammate:
“He’s some player; great with the ball at his feet and commanding. It’s a surprise when you see the big man having to get out of second gear. He’s got the deepest voice I’ve ever heard, but when you hear it you know everything’s going to be OK.”
The 20 greatest defenders in Premier League history, including Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Ashley Cole, have been ranked.
LB: Ashley Cole
Played with Milner at: England
Chelsea’s Ashley Cole
Rounding off a sensational backline is former Arsenal and Chelsea left-back, Ashley Cole. Milner didn’t play in the same club side as Cole, but the pair were part of the same ‘Golden Generation’ of English football. Both men pulled on the famous white shirt of the Three Lions, and it is hard to argue he is the best player in his position to have played alongside Milner. Andy Robertson may have been the back-up plan, but Cole is widely regarded as the first-choice left-back in the greatest Premier League XI of all time. Milner said:
“A world-class full-back. I played with him for England, and against him, and he’d attack and defend all day long. Ashley was the fittest footballer around and always did the job that was expected of him.”
Ashley Cole’s England Statistics
Appearances
Goals
Assists
107
0
7
CM: David Silva
Played with Milner at: Man City
One of the greatest passers of the ball in Premier League history is the first midfielder on the teamsheet. Milner won two league titles while playing in the same side as David Silva and the Spanish playmaker clearly left an impression on his fellow midfielder. There was a side to Silva’s game that the ex-Valencia man wasn’t recognised for, but Milner shed light on this as he explained:
“With him, it was always about the weight of a pass and spotting things nobody else could. But he also loved a tackle! David could decide a game on his own with three assists, but he’d come off buzzing if he won the ball. ‘Did you see my tackle?!’ he’d say afterwards. He was so funny.”
David Silva’s Manchester City Statistics
Appearances
Goals
Assists
436
77
140
CM: Steven Gerrard
Played with Milner at: England
A man who often makes his way into XIs selected by former colleagues, Steven Gerrard is among the greatest midfielders to grace the Premier League, if not the best. The Englishman was all-action as he could do it all. Score, assists, tackle, and cross, you name it and he could pull it off. Despite both representing Liverpool, the pair only just missed out on being teammates on Merseyside as Milner signed in the same transfer window that Gerrard moved on to LA Galaxy. Instead, the duo formed part of the same England midfield.
“The best all-round footballer I’ve ever played with: left foot, right foot, heading, shooting, defending. It’s scary to think about it, as you could have played him anywhere and he would have excelled.”
Steven Gerrard’s England Statistics
Appearances
Goals
Assists
114
21
23
CM: Frank Lampard
Played with Milner at: England, Man City
Frank Lampard’s inclusion means that only one man in the famous Gerrard, Lampard and Paul Scholes debate misses out. It wasn’t just on the international stage that the two men played together, as Lampard joined Manchester City on loan towards the end of his playing days. Milner was a key part of the Citizens’ team at the time and often started games ahead of his former England colleague. Full of praise for the 45-year-old, Milner highlighted the goalscoring prowess of the Chelsea hero.
“The number of goals that Frank scored from midfield gets him into this team – we’d find a way to make him and Stevie work together! I can tell that Lamps will do well as a coach, because his attitude as a player was always second to none.”
Frank Lampard’s Manchester City and England Statistics
Team
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Manchester City
38
8
4
England
106
29
12
RW: Roberto Firmino
Played with Milner at: Liverpool
Liverpool boasted one of the best front threes in recent memory with Roberto Firmino maybe not being the most glamorous of the three players. His work often went unnoticed due to the goalscoring exploits of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, but Milner appreciated the work the magical Brazilian did for the team. Having such a selfless nature and always putting the team’s success ahead of his own personal adulation is an admirable quality that Firmino certainly possessed.
“The lowest-maintenance footballer I’ve ever known. He simply works really hard, smiles and does everything that’s asked of him. His work-rate without the ball is something else, but his ability with the ball at his feet gets him into my line-up.”
The greatest Brazilian players of the Premier League era – ranked in order.
LW: Sergio Aguero
Played with Milner at: Man City
Aguero and Milner played alongside each other at Man City. The Argentine went down in history as one of the best strikers to ever play in the Premier League, bagging 184 English top-flight goals. One of the main forces in the Citizens’ team that won the aforementioned league titles that Milner lifted, the ex-Atletico Madrid forward was one of the most lethal players English football has seen. There is a special moment that Aguero is fondly remembered for, and it is one that sticks in Milner’s mind.
“I remember the ball falling to Sergio in injury time against QPR, when Man City won the league in 2012. It was hard to know from my angle how good a chance it was, because when you saw him pulling his leg back, you had to be confident he was going to hit the back of the net. Fantastic.”
Sergio Aguero’s Manchester City Statistics
Appearances
Goals
Assists
390
260
73
ST: Alan Shearer
Played with Milner at: Newcastle
Another player from Milner’s early playing days, the Premier League’s top goalscorer of all time, had to make it into the team after being part of the same Newcastle side as Milner in the early 2000s. His record of 260 goals is unlikely to be beaten any time soon after Harry Kane departed the division for Bayern Munich in 2023. A man born to score goals, Shearer was the deadliest forward we have seen since the conception of the division in 1992.
“Alan lived to score goals and was the best at it. When you think about all the great players who have followed him since he retired and yet he still has the Premier League goals record, then you appreciate how exceptional he was.”
Alan Shearer’s Newcastle Statistics
Appearances
Goals
Assists
405
206
58
Manager: Jurgen Klopp
Managed Milner at: Liverpool
At the time of the interview, Milner was still a Liverpool player and, as such, he had to keep the manager onside with his answer. Klopp would likely have been his first choice anyway, as the German has become one of the best managers the league has ever seen. There were one or two heated exchanges caught between the pair amid emotional moments on the pitch, but there was always a smile at the end and a classic Klopp hug. The Reds’ boss was always reliant on Milner being one of the main leaders in his dressing room.
“I’d better pick the boss or he’ll get upset. Terry Venables gave me my debut and comes a close second. Jurgen is intense, but what you see is what you get and he’s a pleasure to work with.”
James Milner leaves out huge names including David Beckham and Mohamed Salah
The downside of picking an XI made up of players you have played with over a 20-year career is surely the big-name players that need to miss out. Mohamed Salah is considered one of the greatest players in Premier League history, but there was no room in the prestigious Milner XI. The Egyptian fired Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2019 and Premier League success in 2020 and 2025 as the main talisman of the side.
James Milner, Harry Kane and Phil Foden are all candidates to one day join Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry in the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Midfield superstars Yaya Toure and David Beckham also failed to make the cut after playing with Milner for Man City and England respectively. Beckham is one of England’s best midfielders of all time but doesn’t make it in ahead of Gerrard and Lampard. Toure misses out on the XI despite being one of the top African players to have played in the league.
All statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt (Correct as of 03/01/2026)
Manchester United have been dealt a major blow in their pursuit of Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni after he agreed a contract extension at the Bernabeu, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Red Devils have been pushing to upgrade their midfield options this summer after Casemiro departed at the end of his contract, while Manuel Ugarte has suffered a serious knee injury at the World Cup, leaving Michael Carrick short of options in the middle of the park.
A deal for Ederson has already been agreed with Atalanta, while United also agreed a £50m deal with Chelsea for Andrey Santos on Wednesday afternoon, adding two new faces to the squad. But they now look set to miss out on another top target after Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes.
Tottenham Hotspur are having a dream summer transfer window so far, and they’re ready to go all in to get another deal over the line, according to reports in Spain.
The north London side have completed six deals already for manager Roberto De Zerbi as they plan a major overhaul following two consecutive 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League, with Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes, and Sandro Tonali all arriving.
But the club are not done there and are now looking to add a new forward to their squad, with one name in particular seen as the dream target.
Tottenham Ready to Go All Out for Kroupi
It’s been reported that Spurs are looking to complete a deal to bolster their forward line with Bournemouth sensation Eli Junior Kroupi this summer, with a £75m bid being prepared to try and tempt the Cherries.
Bournemouth are adamant they will not sell the Frenchman, who has been described as ‘world-class’, but that has not deterred De Zerbi’s side, as they look to make a real splash in the market to get back towards the top end of the table.
Tottenham are not the only team showing an interest in the record-breaking 20-year-old, who managed 13 Premier League goals last season, with Barcelona and champions Arsenal also keen.
However, it’s reported that Tottenham are ready to go ‘all out’ to get a deal over the line, with De Zerbi understood to be thrilled at the prospect of having him as part of his squad for the upcoming campaign. The Italian is urging club bosses to accelerate their interest, as he looks to add a top striker to the project.
Bournemouth, however, have not budged on their stance, and with no release clause in his contract, it will take an astronomical offer to convince them to change their position.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Kroupi Would Be Huge Statement for Spurs
AFC Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi celebratesvia Reuters
Kroupi’s performances in the Premier League last season have made him one of the most sought-after attacking talents in the market this summer, and it’s no surprise Bournemouth don’t want to lose him.
Double European champions PSG are also said to be in the running to get him in, with an £87m offer reportedly in the works. But Spurs would be willing to watch that, and if they can beat the French side to a signing for a top young forward, that would be a huge statement.
De Zerbi has made his demands clear, and the club have shown they are not afraid to splash the cash this summer, so this is one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
As with every World Cup, there has been plenty of controversy about the referees. Even before the tournament began, headlines were made as Somali official Omar Artan was controversially denied entry to the US, while more drama has since happened on the pitch.
English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor will be glad to have largely stayed out of headlines so far this summer. They have perhaps been helped by the fact that they are banned from officiating games for one World Cup national team.
Why Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor Can’t Referee Two World Cup Teams
That game will see him take charge of his seventh World Cup match, more than any other Englishman but his options to oversee more games after that become quite limited. This is because all English referees, including Taylor, are not allowed to oversee games involving their own country, England (for obvious reasons), as well as Argentina matches.
As explained by The Athletic, Taylor was actually under consideration for the World Cup final at Qatar 2022 after an impressive tournament, but was unable to do so when Argentina advanced to meet France. This is due to political reasons, largely relating to the 1982 Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina.
The conflict – which lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender as the islands were returned to British control – saw 649 members of the Argentine military, 255 members of the British military, and three Falkland Islanders all killed. Despite decades passing since the war, the subject is still contentious in Argentina, with current president Javier Milei strongly reaffirming his belief in Argentine sovereignty over the territories.
Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor Unlikely to Referee 2026 World Cup Final
Due to the FIFA rules for referee selection, both Englishmen Oliver and Taylor are unlikely to be selected to cover the 2026 World Cup final. They will only be considered if Norway (who play England in Saturday’s last-eight tie) or Switzerland (who play Argentina) advance to the tournament decider.
As well as not being able to take charge of games involving Argentina or England, the duo – as is the case with all referees at the World Cup – are not to officiate matches in their own nation’s pathway. As such, it seems unlikely that Oliver and Taylor will be selected to oversee either semi-final if Argentina or England get that far.
This is because they can’t take charge of the semi-final involving either one or both Argentina and England, while the other semi-final would have a team on the path to potentially meet the Three Lions in the final, which would compromise their status as a neutral party.
As the rules mean they can’t work on games which have direct implications for their own nationalities, Oliver and Taylor were not considered to officiate other matches in England’s Group L earlier in the tournament, including games between Croatia, Ghana and Panama, their group opponents.
