Liverpool denied Jürgen Klopp request to keep duo at Anfield last summer

Jürgen Klopp wanted to keep veteran duo James Milner and Roberto Firmino at Liverpool last summer. The former Reds left Anfield on free transfers following the end of their contracts.

Milner and Firmino both joined Liverpool in the same summer transfer window back in 2015, with Klopp arriving at the club just months after the moves. The former England international was signed on a free transfer from Manchester City, while a fee of $44m (£35m/€41m) was paid to TSG Hoffenheim to secure the services of the Brazilian forward.

The pair would go on to make over 650 combined appearances across all competitions for the club during their eight-year spells on Merseyside. They ultimately departed on separate endeavors last summer.

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Milner opted to remain in the Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion, where he has recently signed a contract extension. He is closing in on the all-time league appearance record.

Firmino accepted a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League to join Al-Ahli. He has eight goals in 29 appearances in the Middle East, while Milner has made 15 appearances for the Seagulls in the Premier League.

While it doesn't matter now due to Klopp's immediate exit and the season coming to a close ahead of the final game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, it has since been revealed that the Liverpool boss was eager to keep both players at Anfield last year.

According to The Times, Klopp was at odds with the hierarchy at the club as he pushed for both Firmino and Milner to be offered fresh deals. Liverpool ultimately decided against the idea and as previously noted, allowed both players to leave on free transfers.

Several other long-term servants also left during a mass overhaul of the squad in 2023, as Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also parted ways with the Reds. A similar situation will also unfold in the coming months, with Joël Matip and Thiago Alcântara approaching the end of their respective contracts.

Liverpool.com says: Liverpool needed to rejuvenate the squad and with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endõ coming in to replace these players, they succeeded in doing this. However, as form dipped in the latter stages of the season, it would have been useful to call upon the services of Milner and Firmino, who have been in positions such as this before.