19 May 2023 , 17:11
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Jurgen Klopp has admitted he wanted to carry on working with James Milner ahead of the veteran midfielder's Anfield exit.
The former England international, 37, will leave Liverpool when his contract expires in the summer. Milner is expected to complete a free transfer to Brighton, who are hoping to qualify for the Europa League. They are currently sixth in the Premier League table.
Milner joined Liverpool in July 2015, just five months before Klopp arrived as manager. The former Manchester City star has played a vital role in Liverpool's success under Klopp - winning seven trophies - and the German will be sad to see him leave next month.
Liverpool announced Milner, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita will all leave the club when their respective deals expire in June. Klopp was asked about Milner's impending departure during a pre-match press conference on Friday.
Klopp said: "Milly I can say, over the years and months that I had really good conversations with him. He knows how highly I value him. He's an incredible part of this team and I would have loved to have work together with him even longer.
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"What exactly the outcome will be of his decision, I think Milly will say that at one point. I'm not sure if it happened already or not, I'm not really aware of that.
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"Nothing else to say from me but nothing will change. I've said it a couple of times, what happened over the past seven and a half years, all the positive things, none of it would happen without James Milner."
Liverpool have won the Premier League title, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup, European Super Cup and Community Shield since Milner first arrived Merseyside. That's an impressive collection of trophies, with Milner also winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield at Man City.
Klopp's view on Milner is shared by the Liverpool squad. Club captain Jordan Henderson has also expressed his disappointment at his team-mate's impending exit but has wished him "the very best" for the future.
Henderson was asked about Milner's importance to Liverpool during an interview with the Press Association. He said: "A tremendous amount of value to the team. I think the manager said it perfectly in that we wouldn’t have achieved anything without Milly.
"He is such a big character and such a big leader within the team. It will definitely be strange not seeing him at Liverpool next season, he’s been incredible ever since he came to the club.
"He helped me a lot and other players around him and is probably taken for granted a little bit as a player from the outside but from the inside he has got so much respect from all of the players and all of the staff and we wish him all the very best in whatever his next chapter looks like."