- Liverpool reached the Champions League final with aggregate win over Roma
- Midfielder James Milner was asked if he and team would celebrate with wine
- However Milner – who is teetotal – instead suggested he would stick to Ribena
Liverpool are celebrating reaching the Champions League final – but James Milner is keeping things a little more reserved.
The Reds made the final for the first time since 2007, beating Roma 7-6 on aggregate despite losing the second leg 4-2 in Italy.
After the game, Liverpool midfielder Milner was asked on BT Sport if he and his team mates would celebrate with a glass of Italian red wine after their triumph.
James Milner joked he will celebrate reaching the Champions League final with Ribena
However Milner – who has been teetotal his entire life – said: ‘Maybe for a few of the boys, and I might stretch myself out for some Ribena or something.’
The quip showed the former England international has a sense of humour to belie the ‘Boring James Milner’ stereotype that has even resulted in a famous, light-hearted Twitter account in honour of his supposed dullness.
The game was almost no laughing matter for Milner however, after he scored an own goal after 15 minutes in Rome when Dejan Lovren miscued a clearance, which struck the midfielder’s face and rebounded in.
Milner’s Liverpool side beat Roma 7-6 on aggregate to reach the showpiece in Kiev
It cancelled out Sadio Mane’s opener, although Georginio Wijnaldum struck to leave Roma needing four goals to force extra time.
They could only manage three, with Edin Dzeko scoring in the second half and Radja Nainggolan adding two late strikes, one a 93rd minute penalty.
Milner said: ‘It was all about getting the job done, and we managed to do that no matter how difficult we made it.
It is the first time Liverpool have reached the Champions League final since 2007
‘Obviously we’re through to the final now and we’ve got to enjoy it, but not for too long because we’ve got another big game at the weekend.’
Milner was even able to laugh about that own goal, asking his Twitter followers with tongue firmly in cheek: ‘Anyone got any tips for getting a Champions League logo off a face?’
He has been essential in Liverpool’s success in this year’s tournament, providing a competition-high nine assists.
Milner also joked about the own goal he scored in the first half after the Reds progressed
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