Milner: There's more to come from me and Reds

The vice-captain helped secure a place at Wembley by netting from the spot in a penalty shootout victory over Stoke City in the second leg of the sides' semi-final tie at Anfield.

Milner, who joined the Reds last summer from the team he will face in the final on February 28, says the experience of winning his first trophy with Manchester City was a catalyst for further success at the Etihad Stadium.

And he hopes that process can be repeated after Jürgen Klopp's men put his former side to the sword in the capital in a month's time.

“We’ve given ourselves a good start, we’re in the final!” he told the Liverpool Echo. “And we’re in all the other competitions.

“Winning the FA Cup [at City] gave us the belief that we could go and win trophies. The first one is always important, to have that winning habit; to get over the line. The first one gave us the belief to go and win the league the next year.

“We’re in a final and it’s one step further than we got last year. It’s pleasing. We’ve got a lot of improving to do as well. If we can do that, it should be exciting times at the club. There’s definitely a lot more to come from this squad.”

The 30-year-old feels his move to Merseyside has been justified by Tuesday's win and says he is enjoying the new experience of being a senior player.

Milner added: “Whatever happens you make that decision and you stick to it. You hope it is the right decision and you don’t look back. That is what I have done.

“The fact that we have got to the first cup final this season, I’ve played a lot of football, I am enjoying my time immensely. I was in a fortunate position because whichever decision I had made I would have been happy I think. I had two amazing football clubs to choose from and so I was very lucky.

“But this is a completely different challenge, different club and a different squad. City had one of the highest average ages in the league with experienced players, whereas here I am unfortunately one of the more senior guys and there some younger guys here and it is a different role for me again.

“But I am enjoying it. It is a new challenge and to be in a cup final is amazing. Like I said when I came here it is not just about playing games, I want to win trophies.

“I still think there is a lot more to come from me here. It is tough changing clubs, I have changed clubs before, played in the Premier League and played a lot of games but it does seem to take time.

“It is a big change, you are playing with different players and everything is new. I don’t think I have hit the levels I want to achieve and I know I can, but I will keep working hard and hopefully my best form will come and the fans will see the best of me.”

The England international also paid tribute to teammate Jon Flanagan, who started his first game in 20 months against Stoke and lasted 105 minutes.

Milner struggled for superlatives to describe the Scouse full-back’s determination to return from his injuries.

“Incredible, I can’t say enough good things about him,” he said. “I’ve played with him at England before so I know what a quality player he is.

“He just always makes the right decision. The amount of time he’s been out, I don’t think there are too many players who could have come and played 100-odd minutes. The physio has probably pulled him.

“I can’t say more good things about him: the desire, the hard-working that no-one sees in the gym until five or six o’clock every day: the long hours (wondering) am I going to get back?

“Watching the lads go out and train, play games while you’re stuck in there with the physios – and the physios have put a lot of work in with him as well.

“So to play for the length of time he did and how well he did; Stoke were pretty quiet on that side and they’re a quality team going forward. It was an unbelievable performance from him and amazing to see. The fans want to see a local boy do well. It’s a great story.”