Liverpool have confirmed they will be missing four top players – James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita – at the end of the season.
A statement made available on the club’s website revealed all the four players will leave the club at the end of the season as their contracts expire.
“The quartet will each embark on new chapters in their careers following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, having helped the Reds lift a host of the game’s biggest honours during their spells at Anfield,” Liverpool said.
The club also revealed a special tribute will be organized for the four players in Liverpool’s last home game against Aston Villa at Anfield to thank the players for their immense contribution to the team.
The planned departure of the quartet is no surprise. Futballnews understands Liverpool were set for a summer overhaul to restructure the team ahead of next season after a dismal performance this term.
The Reds needed to let go some of their first team players ahead of a busy transfer summer at the end of the season.
However, the likes of Roberto Firmino and James Milner have been Jurgen Klopp’s favorites.
Roberto Firmino personally called for his exit from Liverpool despite effort from the club to retain him.
The Brazil international has seen less of action, falling off Jurgen Klopp’s pecking order after the arrival of the likes of Darwin Nunez and Gody Gakpo.
Nevertheless, Liverpool were reportedly keen on extending his contract but he declined chosing to leave at the end of the summer.
Roberto Firmino arrived Liverpool from Hoffenheim for £29m in 2015.
Firmino has made 23 Premier League appearances for Liverpool this season, scoring 9 goals with 4 assists. He also played all eight Liverpool Champions League matches this season, scoring 2 goals.
In his eight years stint with Liverpool, Firmino has made 254 appearances for the club, scoring a total of 80 goals. He has won the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup Champions League twice, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup
He has been linked to a move to Barcelona at the end of the season.
James Milner
James Milner, 37, was another top player Jurgen Klopp wanted to retain at Liverpool but has chosen to leave the club.
Earlier this month, Jurgen Klopp confessed how he “value James Milner, and would want him to stay” if he had his way.
Miner has made 29 Premier League appearances for Liverpool this season, and 8 Champions League appearances.
The former England international joined Liverpool on a free transfer from Manchester City in 2015 and has made 228 appearances for the club, scoring 19 goals.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Oxlade-Chamberlain is also on the list of the quartet to exit Anfield this season.
Chamberlain joined Liverpool from Arsenal in 2017. He has racked up 146 appearances with 18 goals in his six years stint with the club.
Chamberlain has not enjoyed a fruitful spell at Anfield. He suffered a career-denting injury in 2018 that saw him struggle to catch up with his initial momentum.
This season, he has made only 9 Premier League appearances and one appearance in the Champions League.
He won the Champions League, Premier League, EFL Cup, UEFA Super and FIFA Club World Cup with Liverpool.
Chamberlain is linked to a move to Brighton with Newcastle and Aston Villa also lining up for the 29-year-old.
Naby Keita
Naby Keita, 28, joined Liverpool in 2018 and was the first to take up the iconic number 8 jersey at Anfield which was worn by Steven Gerrard. The Guinea international failed to step into the shoes of his predecessor. His spell at Anfield was largely unsuccessful having join the club on a record £51m deal from RB Leipzig.
Keita suffered injury 20 times at Liverpool in his five years stint and has remained on the peripheries at Anfield.
He has made 84 appearances for the club, scoring 7 goals.
This season, Keita has made only 8 Premier League appearances for Liverpool with no Champions League football.
He won the Premier League, Champions League, EFL and FA Cup, Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup with Liverpool.
He has been linked to a move to Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
