James Milner's contract was on the verge of expiring in the coming weeks but this afternoon, Liverpool have announced that he's agreed to an extension at Anfield. The 36 year-old has signed for a further year, keeping him on Merseyside for an eighth consecutive season.
Jurgen Klopp was integral to the offer. The Reds boss values what Milner provides in the dressing room and on the training ground, once stating: “I have told him, I can tell the whole world, nothing we have achieved in the last few years would have happened without James Milner, it's as easy as that."
In addition to his character behind the scenes, his drive and his desire to set standards, the Englishman has proved to be a useful tactical tool for Klopp to utilise. Across his career, he's played virtually every position on the pitch for different clubs, and that adaptability makes his coach's job a lot easier.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp's next Liverpool generation is quietly emerging after £50m move
HAVE YOUR SAY: What do Liverpool need this summer?
Milner has been predominately used as a central midfielder since joining Liverpool. As one of Klopp's no.8s, he's been able to showcase his running power and industrious nature to get up and down the field, making forward runs while also covering the team's full-backs on the defensive side of the game.
When Klopp first arrived on English shores, Milner was deployed as one of his forwards in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and he's also spent time as a holding midfielder, as a left-back and as a right-back, having aided Trent Alexander-Arnold's emergence from the youth ranks.
The ability of the Scouse defender to make incisive passes is almost unrivalled. Thiago Alcantara is the only Liverpool player who averaged more progressive passes per 90 than Alexander-Arnold in the Premier League this season, but Milner placed third.
He's often regarded as a player who keeps things simple and does the basics but when he's in possession of the ball, Milner is more offensive and forward-thinking than many would expect.
Klopp's squad appears set to undergo a series of changes this summer. Divock Origi will depart, and the futures of Neco Williams, Takumi Minamino, Sadio Mane and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - to name but a few - remain to be seen.
With such upheaval on the horizon, Milner's steady presence could be invaluable over the course of the next year.
Moreover, the Reds are being linked with players such as AS Monaco's Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield, and Calvin Ramsey of Aberdeen, who appears to be a rotation option for Alexander-Arnold at right-back.
If certain transfer targets don't move to Anfield as intended - with Tchouameni tipped for Real Madrid - his versatile skill set could allow the club to wait and bide their time before signing alternative options in future windows.
As a reliable and experienced figure of authority in the squad, it is difficult to put a price on Milner's true value. Regardless, Liverpool are set to benefit from him for at least another 12 months, on and off the pitch.
