Jurgen Klopp has called departing Liverpool stars Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ‘legends’ but admitted ‘nothing is forever’ in football.
Liverpool have confirmed that the quartet will leave the club at the end of the season with each out of contract this summer.
Firmino and Milner will depart after seven seasons with the Reds, while Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita were signed by Klopp and have also each contributed to the club’s modern success under the German.
Each have won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and Club World Cup in recent seasons and Klopp believes his side will be saying goodbye to ‘four Liverpool legends’ this weekend.
The club’s clash with Aston Villa is Liverpool’s final home fixture of the season and Klopp is expecting a ‘super emotional’ occasion.
“This game will be super difficult for different reasons,” he told his pre-match press conference.
“We spoke already with the boys; it is super important but also super emotional. We are saying goodbye to, from my point of view, four Liverpool legends. Two of them were here when I arrived, Milly and Bobby, and all the good things that have happened wouldn’t have without them.
“Ox came in, then Naby. Ox was unlucky in moments, bad injuries at bad moments, but he’s a fantastic guy. When people think about Naby, [he’s had] a few too many injuries, but he played and performed well in some important games. We love them but it is professional football; nothing is forever.”
