MILNER: IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN

Midfielder will say a quiet farewell having been the heartbeat of everything Klopp's done at Liverpool... and won EVERYTHING

- DAVID MADDOCK

AMID all the outpouring of emotion at Anfield last weekend, as a quartet of stars said their goodbyes to the Kop, James Milner cut a slightly bemused figure. 

He is not one for the limelight, admitting after that tribute from a packed Anfield: “I get more emotional talking about the other boys, I get more emotional when it’s about other people.”

For all the focus on Roberto Firmino, with the fans singing the Brazilian’s name throughout the final game this season at the famous old stadium, there was still a significant moment when the Kop burst into a song about the veteran midfielder.

There is no wonder. Manager Jurgen Klopp says, Milner has been the heartbeat of everything his team has achieved during his reign on Merseyside.

“Nothing positive that happened in the last seven and a half years would have happened without James Milner,” Klopp declared.

“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.”