This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Ashley Young has had a long career in the Premier League.
He is now in his 13th year in the top tier of English football, having made 368 appearances along the way. During that time, he has scored 47 goals and also provided 86 assists, and those displays have also earned him 39 England caps.
Now 34, Young joined his current club Manchester United from Aston Villa back in 2011, but according to the man himself, he could have moved to Liverpool or Manchester City before he completed that switch. However, he has said that his mind was always on signing for the Old Trafford club rather than those other two sides.
Considering he has received abuse in the past from the Reds’ supporters, it is hard to imagine him wearing the liver bird. However, it was clearly on the cards, and his arrival would have maybe seen the Reds avoid signing James Milner, who has gone on to play a big role at Anfield.
The similarities between the two players are plentiful – they actually played together at Villa Park, don’t forget. We have already mentioned Young’s long career in the Premier League, and Milner has spent even longer in the top flight. He has 564 appearances in the competition, and he also has a comparable record in terms of goals and assists, with the 33-year-old having scored 54 times and also created 83 strikes.
They both started out as wingers, but have since transitioned to other roles. Young has become a full-back, whilst Milner is now a central midfielder, and they have both been used in a number of different areas by their managers, making them utility men. Young and Milner have both received considerable stick from portions of their own fanbase as well down the years, and they both captained their respective sides.
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If Liverpool had already brought in Young, would they have taken Milner a few years later? It seems unlikely considering they are so similar in terms of what they bring. Klopp may have been pushed to bring in another, perhaps more exciting midfielder if he already had an experienced utility man at his disposal.
Considering all that the 61-time England international has achieved with the six-time European champions, though, as well as the praise he has received for his attitude from those in the know, the Merseyside club can be thankful that Young was so desperate to move to their rivals instead.
In other news, one Liverpool youngster give the fans a glimpse of the future.
