Milner stresses the difficulty of the new season for Liverpool
Liverpool midfielder James Milner believes his squad will have to prove themselves anew when the new season begins next month.
In the past season, Milner, 34, contributed to Liverpool winning his first Premier League title since 1990, to crown the player for the third time in his sports career, after he won it in 2012 and 2014 with his former team Manchester City.
For Milner, it is much more difficult to hold the title than win it.
"This is a new start to a more difficult season," Milner told the official Liverpool website.
"I think how awesome we were over the past two seasons was unbelievable," the Liverpool player added, "but if we stay at the same level it won't be good enough."
"Everyone else is developing, everyone is improving and we have a goal that we are looking forward to, and the competitors will try to topple us from the top. So it is up to us to continue improving and developing."
Liverpool won the championship, after finishing at the top of the standings by 18 points in front of the closest competitors, Manchester City, where they decided to win the championship seven stages before the end of the season with 99 points.
Nevertheless, Milner stresses that this will not be significant when the new season begins on September 12th.
"It sounds easy to talk - you can say whatever you want, it's about proving it on the field. We have done that over the past few years and recover from setbacks and disappointments," Milner said.
"Now is the time to come back again and keep pushing and that we have the desire to win even when we are successful," Milner said.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United are the only ones to have retained the Premier League title in the current century, and Milner said Liverpool knew how difficult the task ahead was.
"You got that right to be a hero, but then you have to go prove it and check it again," Milner said.
"I think everyone here is focused and ready to move forward again, and I hope that we have the determination and good performance to win the championship again," Milner concluded.