Liverpool refused to grant the manager's wish to keep hold of a club legend

Jurgen Klopp unsuccessfully pleaded for Liverpool to keep James Milner in 2023, with the former winger being left with one big regret about his time with the Reds. Milner finally hung up his boots at the end of last season after a 24-year career in the Premier League, where he represented Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and, finally, Brighton.

The Englishman’s last two clubs face off this Sunday afternoon as Liverpool host the high-flying Seagulls at Anfield. It marks the first season that neither side will have the midfielder in one of their squads in 11 years.

Milner arrived on Merseyside in 2015 under Brendan Rodgers and went on to become one of Klopp’s most dependable players throughout their eight-year spell together. He secured several major honours under the German, including the Premier League and the Champions League.

Despite being a key member of the squad in his latter years at Anfield, the midfielder made just seven starts in his final campaign with the Reds. Yet, Klopp still held the veteran in high regard and tried to keep him at the club beyond his contract expiry in the summer of 2023.

Klopp appealed to Liverpool chiefs to keep Milner at Anfield less than a year before the manager announced his own departure. The request was rejected by the club hierarchy, however, leading Milner to join Brighton on a free transfer at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

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Milner revealed that while Klopp was keen for him to prolong his time at Anfield, the club ultimately vetoed the request and did not offer him a new deal. He said: "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."

Milner went on to spend three seasons on the South Coast, making 46 appearances for Brighton as a regular starter. However, despite winning six major honours at Liverpool, he regretted not adding a Europa League winners’ medal to his collection, having lost the competition's final to Sevilla in 2016.

He said ahead of his Anfield exit: "It would have been nice to win the Europa League final. We didn’t quite get over the line. Other than that, no [regrets].

"That’s why I’m content on leaving this place, which isn’t easy. I think it’s probably very sad leaving here if you feel as if you’ve missed out or not achieved what you wanted."

Milner ticked off yet another milestone with Brighton last season when he broke the all-time Premier League appearance record. He called time on his career with 658 top-flight appearances, 903 club career games, 61 England caps and 87 goals for club and country.