James Milner will be given another chance to show off his oft-vaunted versatility when Liverpool face Crystal Palace this weekend.

The 33-year-old is set to start defence when Roy Hodgson’s team visit Anfield as a result of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence through a knee problem picked up against Brighton.

While not his natural position, the prospect of Milner featuring at right-back is unlikely to cause sleepless nights among supporters who have seen him impress there on a number of occasions.

But for the man himself, Saturday’s game represents yet another occasion where he will be handed an assignment he did not envision taking on when he first moved to Merseyside in 2015.

Brendan Rodgers’ promises of a return to the central midfield role where he had starred for Aston Villa were key to the Yorkshireman’s decision to swap Manchester City for Liverpool in 2015.

However, just a matter of months into his Reds career, the man who had made those guarantees was replaced in the dugout by Jurgen Klopp.

The German wasted little time in seemingly establishing that he did not share his predecessor’s faith in Milner’s abilities in the middle of the park, preferring to use him anywhere else across the remainder of the 2015-16 campaign,

But it was the Europa League visit to Old Trafford that offered the best insight into where the Englishman’s immediate future lay.

On the subject of taking on this new role, he told FourFourTwo: "Alberto Moreno was injured and the manager gave me a choice: did I want to play at left-back or right-back?

"My answer was, 'That's like asking which one of these guys do you want to spend a night with your missus?!'

"His English wasn't that good then, so I think it went over his head!"

Liverpool squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers 25 show all Liverpool squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers 1/25 We run you through Liverpool's squad for the 2019-20 season... EPA 2/25 Alisson Becker Squad Number: 1



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Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Liverpool FC via Getty Images 20/25 Andrew Robertson Squad Number: 26



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Getty Images 21/25 Divock Origi Squad Number: 27



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Contract expires: New long-term deal signed on 10/07/2019 Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images 22/25 Joel Matip Squad Number: 32



Condition: Ankle injury (Ruled out)



Contract expires: 30/06/2024 David Blunsden/Action Plus 23/25 Trent Alexander-Arnold Squad Number: 66



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Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Of course, Milner performed solidly on the left-hand side that evening and, while Moreno was ultimately restored for the remainder of the season, the Spaniard’s reckless defending in the Europa League final created a vacancy for the following campaign.

And so the Reds’ No.7 took on left-back duties - through gritted teeth - for the entirety of 2016-17, helping the Reds secure a return to the Champions League in the process.

Thankfully for Milner, Andy Robertson’s arrival allied to the emergence of Alexander-Arnold allowed him to return to the engine room the following season.

But Klopp is certain his most experienced player benefited from his time in defence, and recently said: “When he looks back on his career he will think about the season he played at left-back, when he learned a lot about football!”

From the manager’s perspective, the advantages of that stint at the back have been clear in subsequent seasons that have seen Milner primarily feature in his favoured role while also filling in occasionally at full-back.

Klopp has always preferred managing a tight-knit, versatile collection of players over assembling a super squad, knowing that the opportunities provided by injuries and rotation tend to ensure everyone remains involved and happy.

In Pictures | Liverpool transfers targets and possible departures 10 show all In Pictures | Liverpool transfers targets and possible departures 1/10 What transfer business will Klopp complete in the coming year? Getty Images 2/10 Target Name: Timo Werner

Club: RB Leipzig

Position: Forward

Age: 22

AFP/Getty Images 3/10 Likely departure Name: Ben Woodburn

Position: Forward

Age: 19

Liverpool FC via Getty Images 4/10 Likely departure Name: Lazar Markovic

Position: Midfielder

Age: 24

Liverpool FC via Getty Images 5/10 Summer departure Name: Simon Mignolet

Position: Goalkeeper

Age: 30

Liverpool FC via Getty Images 6/10 Summer departure Name: Divock Origi

Position: Forward

Age: 23

PA 7/10 Summer departure Name: Joel Matip

Position: Defender

Age: 27

David Blunsden/Action Plus 8/10 Summer departure Name: Alberto Moreno

Position: Defender

Age: 26

Liverpool FC via Getty Images 9/10 Summer departure Name: Daniel Sturridge

Position: Striker

Age: 29

AP 10/10 Summer departure Name: Adam Lallana

Position: Midfielder

Age: 30

Liverpool FC via Getty Images 1/10 What transfer business will Klopp complete in the coming year? Getty Images 2/10 Target Name: Timo Werner

Club: RB Leipzig

Position: Forward

Age: 22

AFP/Getty Images 3/10 Likely departure Name: Ben Woodburn

Position: Forward

Age: 19

Liverpool FC via Getty Images 4/10 Likely departure Name: Lazar Markovic

Position: Midfielder

Age: 24

Liverpool FC via Getty Images 5/10 Summer departure Name: Simon Mignolet

Position: Goalkeeper

Age: 30

Liverpool FC via Getty Images 6/10 Summer departure Name: Divock Origi

Position: Forward

Age: 23

PA 7/10 Summer departure Name: Joel Matip

Position: Defender

Age: 27

David Blunsden/Action Plus 8/10 Summer departure Name: Alberto Moreno

Position: Defender

Age: 26

Liverpool FC via Getty Images 9/10 Summer departure Name: Daniel Sturridge

Position: Striker

Age: 29

AP 10/10 Summer departure Name: Adam Lallana

Position: Midfielder

Age: 30

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

And as both a flexible footballer and vital dressing-room presence, Milner is crucial to this ethos.

Of course, quite how long the two-time Premier League winner wishes to retain this fluid role at Anfield remains unclear as he heads toward the final stages of a deal that runs until the summer of 2020.

The growing promotion prospects of his boyhood club Leeds United appear to be contributing to speculation that he may wish to depart, even if Liverpool’s desire to keep hold of such a key member of their squad is not in question.

But for now at least, Klopp knows he can count on a player whose dependability is matched only by his ability to fill in wherever he is needed - starting with Crystal Palace on Saturday.