James Milner spotted admiring Thiago Alcantara's touch in Liverpool training

Liverpool star James Milner was blown away by Thiago Alcantara’s skills in training as the Spaniard returned to the squad.

The midfielder could make his second appearance for the Premier League champions in the Merseyside derby against Everton.

He did not need long to impress Reds fans, breaking a Premier League record in just 45 minutes of play.

But Thiago missed the losses to Arsenal and Aston Villa after testing positive for Covid-19 and going into self-quarantine.

And footage has emerged of the Spaniard getting back to his best in training, leaving team-mate Milner impressed.

In the clip, the 29-year-old is practicing his long-ball receiving and passing on his return to Melwood.

James Milner was spotted admiring Thiago Alcantara's incredible control as he returned to Liverpool training (LIVERPOOL)

After dropping down his water bottle, the midfielder uses the outside of his right foot to being down a long ball.

And it simply lifts it into the air for a series of keepy-ups before Thiago launches it back down-field with a low drive.

At the same time, Milner is emerging from the changing rooms – and cannot take his eyes off his new team-mate showing off his skills.

While Thiago impressed his team-mates on the pitch, another manager who knows him well has suggested the Spaniard could be the “signing of the season”.

The midfielder took a long ball down with the outside of his right foot (LIVERPOOL)

"He's a phenomenal player. He's a top midfielder but he's also a magician in the way that [Philippe] Coutinho was," Spain national manager Jose Enrique said.

"I can see him alongside Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in midfield, and giving the team something they didn't have before.

"And it says a lot about where the club is right now that someone who is an important player at Bayern Munich wants to come and play for Liverpool.

He then showed off some keepy-up skills in front of Milner before launching the ball back down pitch (LIVERPOOL)

"I think [Jurgen] Klopp has the best squad he has had since he has been at the club. And he will make the signings better players. He makes all of them better players.

"It's difficult to improve someone who a top Bayern player but Thiago will learn new things. He will be, if not the signing, then certainly one of the signing of the seasons."

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