Is Milner really better than Coutinho? (Picture: Getty)

Paul Ince sparked utter bemusement among Liverpool fans after making a startling claim that James Milner is better than Philippe Coutinho.

The former Reds midfielder is a big fan of the England international and sees him as the best player in Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

Milner, 31, deputised at left-back in the 2016/17 season, with Alberto Moreno unfancied by Klopp and has established himself as a utility man during his time in the Premier League with Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Manchester City.

Coutinho is not fancied as Liverpool’s best players (Picture: Getty)

Coutinho, meanwhile, is currently being chased by Barcelona for a reported £100million and is widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s top performers.

But neither he, nor the likes of Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah compare to Milner, according to Ince, who rates him as the best player at Anfield.

‘James Milner is the best player at Liverpool,’ he told ITV.

‘Better than Coutinho. He can play anywhere.’

Needless to say, Ince got the usual social media treatment when saying something against the grain, and was universally trolled by fans of the club.

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