James Milner will bring down the curtain on his Liverpool career on Sunday - even though Jurgen Klopp was keen on keeping the veteran at Anfield for another year.
The 37-year-old joined the Reds from Manchester City almost eight years ago and has played a pivotal role in a golden period in the club's history. Milner has pretty much won it all on Merseyside: the Premier League, the Champions League and both domestic cups have all been captured since the veteran signed on the dotted line with the Reds.
Milner will take to the field in a Liverpool shirt one final time this weekend at Southampton as the 2022/23 campaign concludes.
Speculation that Milner could move on to pastures new this summer had been rumbling on for weeks before his departure was officially confirmed by Liverpool. Brighton has been touted as the midfielder's most likely destination.
Ahead of Milner's swansong this weekend, Klopp took the time to spell out just how important the versatile ace has been to Liverpool.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Anfield boss said: “Nothing positive that happened in the last seven and a half years would have happened without James Milner. I think I am the manager he played the most games for, and my English is not good enough to properly express the incredible respect I have for him.”
Klopp's glowing endorsement underlines why the Reds boss was so keen to keep hold of Milner - something the outgoing Liverpool ace made clear ahead of Sunday's match.
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As well as detailing Klopp's attempt to keep him, Milner said that the German was overruled by the club hierarchy. Liverpool owners, Fenway Sports Group, are expected to provide Klopp with funds to rebuild his squad following a disappointing campaign.
Milner told reporters: “It’s all good because the manager wanted to keep me - which as a player is what you want. Obviously the club decided a different way. In my head it felt like it could be a good time, so I’m content with how it’s all come about
“It was probably about three weeks ago that I heard from the club. Because I hadn’t heard anything, in my own mind I had probably decided myself that I would be going. I will continue to play football, so yes I could be back in front of the Kop potentially. It’s an option.”
As well as saying goodbye to Milner on Sunday, Liverpool will also bid farewell to Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who will all move on in the summer upon the expiration of their contracts.
