Former Leeds United midfielder James Milner has admitted tonight's clash will 'mean a lot to him' as Liverpool prepare to host the Whites at Anfield.
The 36-year-old played at Elland Road from 2002 to 2004 after being in the youth academy from 1996 to 2001 and was born in Leeds but has been a key part of Jurgen Klopp's system in recent years.
Speaking to Sky Sports before this weekend's fixture, Milner said that while the fixture would feel 'strange', he's fully focused on a positive outcome for Liverpool.
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"It's an important game as they all are obviously and our start to the season hasn't been as good as we would've liked. We've had a couple of good performances recently, followed up a bad one, so it's important we try and get back on that winning trend as soon as possible.
"With the Champions League games going on in midweek, that's something we have to focus on first so it doesn't give you the full week to focus on these games.
"It means you don't have too long to prepare, and that means how you perform in midweek can have a big impact on the team. But once the whistle blows, it's just like any other game, you're trying to do the best for your team.
"Things before and after the game are still a bit weird, obviously all my family are still all Leeds fans, got a lot of friends who are Leeds fans and I obviously grew up following Leeds and played for them so it's always slightly strange.
"They mean a lot to me but you always prepare as well as you can and once that whistle goes, it doesn't matter who you're playing against."
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