Taking a penalty can sometimes seem like the easiest thing in football, but having the quality and confidence to consistently put the ball past the keeper from the spot is a skill very few players in the game have.
Liverpool's best ever penalty shootout squad! 🔥
Who has the best pen? ❤ #LFC
— TheKop.com (@TheKop_com) March 27, 2020
Yet for Liverpool, they’ve had a number of players who thrived under the pressure of taking a penalty, with James Milner currently being the Reds’ best man from the spot, as the veteran midfielder has missed just two of the 21 penalties he has taken for the Reds since joining from Manchester City.
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Which is why when TheKop.com posted a picture of Liverpool’s best ever penalty shootout squad, some supporters on social media were confused as to why Milner had been left out whilst Mohamed Salah made the five-man team.
The Egyptian winger has only scored 14 penalties in his entire career, and two of his three misses came during the qualification stages of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2018.
Here’s what a few Liverpool supporters had to say about Milner’s omission from the dream five-man penalty side on Twitter…
Milner should be there…
Man never missed a penalty in his life— LFC Forever🙌🙏✌🔴🤩 (@aritravo_auddy) March 27, 2020
Milner has to be there
— The Scouse Foodie (@thescousefoodie) March 27, 2020
Tough to leave out Milner, Kuyt, Molby, Reina and Dudek… and Adrian.
If I had to pick one to add though, I’d go for Milner. The Confidence.
— Brooks Livermore (@BrooksLivermore) March 27, 2020
Why is Milner not part?
— Nana Adwoa Pomaah (@NanaAdwoaP__) March 27, 2020
Milner over Salah
— Grant Cornelius (@grant_cornelius) March 27, 2020
Milner should be there but Stevie G
— Nigel Jones (@OZ69LFC) March 27, 2020
Milner has been tasked with taking some important spot-kicks for Liverpool in his time with the club, including goals against the likes of Leicester City, PSG and Everton.