Milner: We want to make fans get carried away
Liverpool's improving form under Jürgen Klopp has sparked tentative talk of a challenge for silverware, and James Milner is in no mood to dampen fans' hopes.
The German's reign kicked off with three consecutive draws but he has since overseen seven wins and just one defeat, a run that has secured progression to the knockout stages of the Europa League, a Capital One Cup semi-final berth, and moved the Reds within six points of top spot in the Barclays Premier League.
Ahead of today's clash with Newcastle United at St James' Park, supporters are daring to dream that another victory could inspire a challenge for top honours.
And the club's vice-captain doesn't mind such excitement among the fanbase, as long as the players do not put pressure on themselves.
"We want to put performances on that make people get carried away," he said.
"As long as no-one in the dressing room is, you want the fans to get carried away and dream about where we can go.
"Inside the four walls of that dressing room we need to concentrate on the next game, keep working on becoming a better team, improving, and see where that takes us.
"[Pressure] comes with playing at a top club. I've been fortunate enough to have played for big clubs in my career and know that expectation and pressure.
"When you're pulling on a Liverpool shirt, [you know] it's a club that's used to winning trophies and that was one of the reasons I joined."
Milner has no doubts that his teammates possess the requisite quality to launch an assault for silverware this season.
In fact, the No.7's only concern is that his fellow squad members don't realise quite how good they are.
"I see a talented group of players - some young players, some more experienced, I think we've got a really good mix," he enthused.
"But maybe [there are] players that at times don't realise how good we are and how good we can be and have maybe struggled a bit for belief at times."
The England midfielder arrived at Anfield this summer with a reputation for running himself into the ground for the cause and has evidenced that workrate on numerous occasions since.
That is why it's somewhat surprising to hear him declare he is actually aiming to run less under the famously demanding Klopp.
"Nobody goes out there not to work hard," he added.
"There are players who find it easier than others but I've always gone out there and ran as fast and as hard as I can for 90 minutes anyway.
"I think it's having that coordination as a team and people doing it together and recognising when the time is right and when to sit off.
"Ultimately, we want to run less. If we're doing right and we're getting the ball back and keeping it, it means we're going to run less.
"That is the aim, to bring the stats down, but maybe have the intensity and score a few goals!"