Jurgen Klopp at odds with Liverpool chiefs as servant says goodbye to Reds

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp previews the Southampton game

Liverpool’s board and Jurgen Klopp were at odds with one another over James Milner’s future. The veteran midfielder plays his final game for the Reds today, what will be his 332nd appearance for the Anfield outfit since arriving on a free transfer eight years ago.

But Klopp wanted the 37-year-old, one of Liverpool’s standard-setters in the dressing room, to be given an extension. However the Liverpool vice-captain will depart following their clash with Southampton at St Mary’s this afternoon.

The club’s hierarchy refused to give the versatile Milner a new deal despite Klopp’s wishes with the ex-England international expected to be unveiled as a Brighton player in the coming weeks. But he says having the German manager’s backing helps make it easier to leave the Merseyside club.

Milner explained: “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.

Don’t miss…
Jurgen Klopp vows to ‘drive Liverpool players to other clubs’ in brutal message[QUOTES]

“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.”

Milner is taking the necessary badges to become a coach in his post-playing days and has been tipped to return to Liverpool in a coaching capacity in a few years’ time. And he added: “Some days I think I’d love a go at management – and then other days you see a manager sign a new contract and six weeks later they get sacked.

“That’s when you think ‘maybe the golf course is a better option!’ We’ll see. Doing my badges has helped me learn and I’ve played under some unbelievable managers.

Must read…
Lockyer’s dad posts brilliant picture of ace celebrating promotion in hospital[LATEST]
Crying Jude Bellingham pushes camera away after Borussia Dortmund title agony[REACTION]
Man Utd move for Kim Min-jae plunged into doubt as Prem rival ‘jump ahead'[TRANSFERS]

“I’ve played under some poor ones as well! But you can still learn from them. Playing for as long as I have – and with the players that I’ve played alongside – it does seem a shame not to use that knowledge.”

Speaking earlier this month, Klopp said of Milner: “He knows how highly I value him. He is an incredible part of this team and I would love to work together with him even longer.

“I said a couple of times nothing positive that happened in the last seven and a half years would have happened without James Milner.” Milner will leave Liverpool having won every major trophy bar the Europa League. With one game to go, he has contributed 26 goals and 46 assists in 331 games across all competitions.

Source: Read Full Article