John McGinn has many admirers in the game, one of those is a Liverpool legend who would love to see him in red
John McGinn (7) of Scotland celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup
John McGinn (7) of Scotland celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Former Liverpool and England defender Phil Thompson believes Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn is exactly the type of player that is needed at Anfield.
The Aston Villa skipper has hit all the headlines in recent weeks, first he lifted the Europa League trophy, then he scored Scotland's opening goal of the World Cup against Haiti.
He's also seen former Villa assistant boss Roy Keane call him out as a 'pub player', a comment that led to much bemusement in the football world.
Anfield legend, Thompson, is a big fan of McGinn. Speaking about the difficulties his former side have in midfield, he sees the Scot as an ideal solution.
Speaking to Footy Accumulators he stated: “John McGinn is a player everyone needs. Liverpool don’t have a McGinn in their midfield; someone who demands from others and can give away a needless free-kick as if to say ‘I’m here’.
John McGinn of Scotland
John McGinn of Scotland(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
“Liverpool don’t have a Jordan Henderson or a James Milner anymore. They need someone like McGinn; he brings so much to that Scotland side. His attitude rubs off on his teammates, and importantly he demands from others.”
As for Keane's comments, Thompson disagrees, stating: "Roy is one of the great players of our time. What was one of his strengths? Influencing games - and not necessarily through skill, but through his passion and commitment to the cause.
"For Roy to be saying those things about McGinn, I think is very harsh.”
Anyway, hands off, Thommo. The boy is going nowhere!
How to follow our Aston Villa coverage
John Townley
John Townley
You can follow our dedicated reporter John Townley on X by clicking here - he follows Villa home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.
So much happens day to day and sometimes you can struggle to keep on top of the very latest updates as and when they occur - that's why we have produced a daily newsletter which you can sign up to, for free, and which means you'll have a round-up of the key stories land in your email inbox.
You'll also get competition offers and stories around discounts on Villa merchandise.
Sign up to the Villa newsletter here.
WhatsApp: You can also get all your favourite content from BirminghamLive's Villa team on WhatsApp. Click here to sign up for breaking updates about the biggest stories in and around the club.If you prefer reading our Villa stories on your phone, consider downloading the BirminghamLive app, in which you can personalise the content you see by selecting Villa as one of your designated topics. You can get it from Apple here and for Android here.
Social: We have a Facebook page waiting for you with daily updates, some of which we don't post anywhere else - click here
You can also folllow our Villa updates on X - here
Podcast: Our weekly Aston Villa podcast, Claret And Blue, is also available to watch and listen on all major streaming services. You can subscribe to the YouTube channel here, while you can access the podcast on Spotify here and via Apple here.
Midlands Football editor Steve Wollaston said: "We pride ourselves on covering all the topics of interest to Villa fans, from tactics and team news to kit launches and transfer rumours. Signing up for our newsletter means you won't miss anything that's happening at Villa Park and Bodymoor Heath."
Our Villa newsletter is already a huge success, so don't miss out - just sign up today and you will automatically receive all the headline news straight to your phone, tablet or computer.