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Jurgen Klopp is adamant “perfect” James Milner has a future at Liverpool for as long as he remains manager.

Milner is in the last 12 months of his current contract having become one of Klopp's most trusted lieutenants since the Reds boss took over in October 2015.

The midfielder had arrived on a free transfer a few months earlier having been released by Manchester City, and has so far played 177 games for the club while scoring 22 goals.

Liverpool are keen to offer the 33-year-old, whose fitness levels continue to astound, a new deal as reward for his ongoing contribution.

And Klopp said: "He could be an athletics coach right now! James, what a guy! He’s very important, he improved a lot I think, playing different positions.

“He played a full season at left-back and didn’t like it too much, he found different words for it.

“But I think it helped him. Now he’s constantly showing in that position when we are building up. We have to tell him ‘not always so deep’ so he obviously enjoyed it more than he knew.

(Image: Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“Character, talent, all that stuff is on the highest level. It’s strange, only in sports do we speak about a 33-year-old person as if he was old. Imagine we did that with photographers!

“Milly, especially, with all the things he has, there are still a few good years to come. And for a guy like him, there is always a door open in our club.

“As long as I am here, there will always be a place for a guy like him.”

Milner has started pre-season strongly and will feature when Liverpool play the first match of their US tour against Borussia Dortmund here in Notre Dame.

And Klopp added: “James is not the most easy player to handle. He likes to discuss and ask, he likes to know the reasons why we do what we do. You could see in different moments last year how much it meant to him.

“Four years back, I don’t know exactly what people thought of him, but he was a free transfer and for English football supporters that is never a good sign!

“It was a brilliant idea in that moment, because without players like Milly, success in football is absolutely impossible.

“The dressing room, I am often there but not often enough, and you need figures to deal with that. He’s perfect.”