James Milner remains a very important part of the Liverpool set-up according to Jurgen Klopp.
The contract of the 37 year-old expires at the end of this season and with the speculation of a midfield overhaul in the summer, it was believed that the veteran may call time on his illustrious 20 year career.
There has also been some talk that Milner may become a member of Klopp’s back room staff when he does retire as he is regarded to have one of the most astute minds when it comes to the game.
But speaking ahead of the clash with Chelsea today, the manager stated that the midfielder still has a ambition to play on.
“We have different plans for Milly but Milly wants to keep playing.
“When you see him play the other night I think everyone understands that. You can't judge him normal for his age. He is 37, doesn't look a day like this when he is in training.
“He is an incredibly important player and in this game (Wolves) you saw on the pitch as well. It is not that Milly expects to play 64 games a season but in 64 games a season Milly could be extremely important. That is how it is."
Milner has worn the colours of Liverpool on more than 300 occasions, which is more than 100 more than the next on the list (203 appearances with Man City).
When it comes to the Premier League, Milner currently sits fourth in line when it comes to appearances, currently he has 606 ( 211 for Liverpool) and is only behind Frank Lampard (609), Ryan Giggs (632), and out in front is Gareth Barry with 653.
With that record now in sight and being the determined figure that he is, plus the fact that he keeps himself in great physical shape, it is little surprise that the highly regarded figure may want the record to himself.
And as Klopp stated, despite making a few stops along the way, he can classify himself as a Liverpool player first and foremost.
“Milly has reached 600 games and most of them for Liverpool.
“Even a player who had a few clubs can end up at his club and I would consider Liverpool as his club and I am pretty sure the club should use his character and his mind-set because it is really special.
'There might be more fancy players out there but no one with a similar mind-set and that makes him incredibly valuable for us. And it is not because I am too loyal. It is just a fact."
Another player whose Liverpool future is up in the air at the end of the season is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but the midfielder maintains that he is in good physical shape and has plenty more to give.
"I have only had the hamstring injury during pre-season between that time [since the ACL injury].
"When the game time is down sometimes people correlate that with an injury, when over that two-year spell I have only had the hamstring injury, but I wasn’t playing as much. Being fit and available and wanting to play, but not playing as much as you would like is tough as a footballer.
"There is a lot of competition for places so when you do get the opportunities it makes you that little bit more hungry to make sure you take them. I still feel like there is more in me for sure."
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