The Liverpool skipper has been destroyed on social media for choosing blue over red in the coin toss for Tuesday's shock 2-0 Champions League loss at Red Star Belgrade.
Some fans blamed the Reds' defeat on Milner wrongly opting for the colour of derby rivals Everton.
And as the 32-year-old took a ribbing on twitter, one supporter joked Milner is lucky a legendary boss from the past is not still in charge.
He said: "James Milner lost the toss after picking blue instead of red on the referee's disc. Bill Shankly would've sold him for that!"
And another fan claimed the behaviour of "outrageous Millie" was the biggest scandal since then-Everton boss Ronald Koeman was sledged by Toffees' supporters for his red Christmas tree decorations in 2016.
Dutchman Koeman took it well – with a Grinch-perfect response.
He originally tweeted a photo of a crimson tree with the message: "Almost Christmas time, busy fotball period."
But after that offering was rated as a load of baubles – far too humbug for Toffees – Koeman posted a new picture of the same tree, now looking much whiter than red.
He asked: "Better colour?"
This time, though, it is a much-respected player from the other side of the city's football divide who has been off-colour with his decision.
One fan alluded to Milner's haul of winners' medals from his five years with Manchester City – two Premier League titles, FA Cup and EFL Cup.
He tweeted: "He won trophies with a team in Blue. I understand his preference."
Another supporter was "glad he lost" the toss.
And one said: "Jordan Henderson would never have picked blue over red in the coin toss. Please remove Milner as vice captain."
Meanwhile, Milner has tweeted to apologise for Liverpool's defeat in Serbia, whilst insisting they are still in control of qualification for the KO stages.
The Reds will go through if they win at Paris Saint-Germain in their next game.
But anything other than victory there would mean an anxious nervous finale at Anfield against current group leaders Napoli.
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