James Milner has been an outstanding servant to Liverpool and, after eight years with the club, he will depart at the end of this season.
Alongside Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Roberto Firmino, Milner was given a heartfelt farewell by the Liverpool fans after the final home game of the season against Aston Villa last week, and is widely expected to sign for Brighton as a free agent ahead of the 2023-24 season.
The English midfielder is wrapping up his time at the club this week ahead of the final game of the season against Southampton on Sunday afternoon - and the Anfield groundstaff have given him a perfectly fitting parting gift, in a cheeky nod to one of Milner's most notable habits from his time with Liverpool.
Liverpool give brilliant gift to mark James Milner's departure
Even as he enters the twilight years of his career, James Milner has been an important part of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side as they have enjoyed several huge victories in recent seasons.
Milner joined the club in 2015, and has since won all four major honours with the club, and captained them on several occasions during a hugely successful eight years at Anfield.
One trait of Milner's game which has seen him ranked among the very best in the Premier League has been his penalty taking. He has scored 89% of the penalties he has taken in the league, and scored in Liverpool's shoot-out victories in both domestic cup finals last season.
Milner also made 55 Champions League appearances for Liverpool, and scored penalties in both of Liverpool's group stage games against PSG in their victorious 2018-19 Champions League campaign.
With Milner having played his final game for Liverpool at Anfield, the groundstaff have given him a perfect gift to mark his time at the club.
The Anfield staff presented Milner with one of the penalty spots, cut out from the turf at the iconic stadium, with a note reading:
To James
After 8 years of destroying our pen spots! It's now time you looked after one yourself!
Best of luck for the future
All the Groundstaff
When the groundstaff get your leaving gift spot on 👏😂 pic.twitter.com/y8dFa0dqkB
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 26, 2023
Milner shared a photo of the gift to his Instagram page, with the caption: "What a gift that is! No pressure there then, I better get my scissors and pink ruler back out!"
It's the perfect gift for a man who scored 19 of his 26 goals for Liverpool from the spot over the years, as he moves on to a new challenge at 37-years-old.
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