Liverpool midfielder Fabinho has lauded the departing Reds midfield trio ahead of their final match for the club.
A trip to Southampton brings the curtain down on a disappointing campaign for Jurgen Klopp's side. Midfielders James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as well as forward Roberto Firmino, will call time on their Anfield careers.
The quartet were given an emotional send-off on Merseyside after their 1-1 draw with Aston Villa last weekend. Liverpool now face the prospect of a busy summer with the Brazilian set to be alongside fresh faces come August but with the trip to the Saints providing a period of reflection - the 29-year-old praised his teammates.
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"These are great players, played a minimum five years for the club and the three of them won everything at the club," he said speaking to the official Liverpool website.
"I remember, Naby and I arrived together at the club. I remember the pre-season – he adapted much faster than me! He was playing since the first game against West Ham, he started that game and he was playing really well.
"I always loved to play with him because we understand each other really well, and we will miss him. Out of the pitch, Naby is something really special, really funny and nice to be around.
"Ox, since my arrival he struggled a little bit with injuries – when I arrived his knee was injured. But he was a really nice guy as well, nice to be around and nice to play together as well.
"He always said I don’t talk too much on the pitch but when I talk it’s because I’m right. So when I say something he says, ‘I just try to listen to you because I know you say something right.’ He is a nice guy and I wish the best for him as well," he continued.
Fabinho's midfield partners depart having made a combined 606 appearances for Liverpool. During that time, they won almost every trophy available including the Premier League as they were immortalised for winning the Reds' first title in 30 years.
Milner arrived from Manchester City on a free transfer and has gone on to make more appearances at Anfield than any of his previous clubs, amassing 331 outings.
Fabinho detailed how the veteran helped him when he arrived from Monaco, adding: "And Millie, I remember Millie when I arrived at the club, he helped me with his Spanish – he speaks really good Spanish so he was important for me.
"When a new midfielder arrives at a club, you never know the way the other midfielders will treat you, how their reaction will be. But Millie didn’t care that I was a midfielder, that I was fighting for a position with him, he was really nice to me.
"That’s what a captain does, he was one of the captains of the team and his actions speak for themselves because he’s really nice."
The trip to St Mary's marks a rare occasion for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp as they go into the game with nothing to play for.
Manchester United's win over Chelsea confirmed the Red Devils' place in next season's Champions League resigning the Reds to Europa League football.
The Liverpool number three set out an early demand for next season as they look to right the wrongs of the 2022-23 campaign.
"Our goal is always to fight for the trophy, for the Premier League," he continued. "So we know we can’t start the way we started, we have to be much better since the beginning of the league. I think that’s an important thing to have in mind for the next season."
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