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Brendan Rodgers has explained how he persuaded James Milner to join Liverpool – and revealed the key reason that prompted the midfielder to switch from Manchester City.

Milner ensured it was a miserable return for his former boss with an assist for Sadio Mane and a dramatic injury-time penalty as Rodgers' Leicester City were beaten 2-1 at Anfield on Saturday.

The midfielder was one of the final signings of the Northern Irishman at Liverpool having chosen to join after his contract at City expired in the summer of 2015.

And Rodgers has revealed the work that went into completing the deal while admitting he hasn't been surprised by Milner's subsequent success.

“At that time, we felt that we needed that experience to come in,” he said. “It was a big decision for James.

“I remember travelling out one evening with Charlotte, my wife, and we were trying to coax him to come. So we went to his house and we sat down.

“Charlotte did the work on his wife, telling her what a great club Liverpool is and how it is an incredible place to come. And I went to work on James...”

Rodgers added: “It’s really, really interesting because he wanted to come to Liverpool. He had won the Premier League, he had won cups. His whole ambition was to win the Champions League and he felt that he would have a better opportunity to win it at Liverpool.

“When we got the call to say he was going to come, I was so happy. His professionalism, his intensity, his focus. It was always going to help the squad. Even though it was only a short time we worked together, he was always going to be a really good signing.

“He was brilliant. Then you see what he has done. He has played at left-back, he has played in midfield. He is just a top class professional and he has done absolutely brilliant for the club.

“And I dreaded the penalty! Knowing he is on the pitch... He is very cool and calm – and he doesn’t miss. He tucked it away, even with that pressure.”

Rodgers, who embraced Milner after the final whistle, was delighted when the 33-year-old and Jordan Henderson, who he made club captain in 2015, won the European Cup in June.

“You always try to keep in contact,” said Rodgers. “You move on but you become friends.

“I always try to do my best for the players – the likes of him, Jordan (Henderson). When they lifted the European Cup last year, to see their joy and their happiness, it was absolutely brilliant.

“They are good guys and you are playing here under big pressure. They are absolutely key for the whole spirit of Liverpool. They bring that intensity and focus and they are good guys.”

Rodgers was given a warm reception by the Anfield crowd before kick-off on his first return to the stadium since being sacked as manager four years earlier.

“I was really excited to come back,” he said. “From when I arrived on Friday night and saw some of the guys who are always there at the hotels, it was nice seeing them and then coming to the stadium.

“I think the Liverpool supporters gave me a nice applause at the beginning.

“I had some great memories here. Of course, it is always difficult when you leave and I never really had the chance to come back before.”