Klopp reveals what Milner took with him when he left Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has lifted the lid on the invisible departure that followed James Milner out of Anfield in the summer of 2023: the club’s entire rulebook. Speaking to ESPN after the 40-year-old became the Premier League’s all-time leading appearance-maker with 654 games for Brighton, Klopp said the full-back’s exit forced Liverpool to rebuild its internal disciplinary structure from scratch.

“He’s probably the most disciplined, most stubborn, most strict professional football player I ever worked with,” Klopp said. “At the same time he has the biggest heart.”

The German coach traced Milner’s influence beyond the pitch, explaining that the midfielder quietly policed squad fines and daily standards. “Somebody came in my office and asked, ‘What’s the fine?’ I said, ‘I have no clue who did that so far.’ ‘Oh, Millie.’ So he took all with him. Not the money, but all the rules. We had to set it up completely new because Millie left.”

Klopp believes that unseen stewardship underpinned Liverpool’s dressing-room culture during eight trophy-chasing seasons. He also praised Milner’s adaptability, noting that the veteran’s willingness to operate across multiple positions “gives you a longer lifeline,” a trait that kept him central to the club’s strongest campaigns.

Andy Robertson echoed the sentiment, reminding observers that Milner’s “mentality and character” should not overshadow his quality as a footballer. Jordan Henderson previously labelled Milner “a pair of captains,” highlighting leadership that never relied on an armband.

With the record now belonging to Brighton’s No. 20, Klopp’s reflections serve as a reminder that Milner’s 600-plus top-flight outings rest on more than durability; they are built on the daily enforcement of standards that once lived inside Melwood and Anfield, and left when he did.