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Jurgen Klopp: This Liverpool star is the perfect professional
JURGEN KLOPP has hailed James Milner as "the perfect professional" whose exemplary attitude makes him a top-five hit in his managerial career.
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Milner joined Liverpool from Manchester City because he wanted to play as a central midfielder but boss Klopp has converted him into a left-back.
And while the German accepts it would not have been a clever career move to say no, he has been delighted with Milner's response.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has hailed James Milner as 'the perfect professional'
Klopp said: "I have been very lucky to surround myself with great professionals, but Milly 100 per cent is in the top five. Yes, the perfect professional.
"It would not have been the smartest decision if he said he didn't want to do it. Actually he doesn't look like a left-back. Most of the time they are defensive-minded but a lot of time he is running into spaces. We didn't want to make him a left-back, we only wanted someone who can have an influence on the game from this position.
Milner has impressed Klopp after converting to left-back
"We explained in detail how we wanted to use him, to get the benefit for our game. He was open and I was not too surprised by that."
Milner made his Leeds debut at 16 and turns 31 in two weeks' time but Klopp reckons he can enjoy a 20-year playing career, adding: "For sure he has five or six really good years [left]."
Milner has scored five goal for Liverpool this season
The Liverpool vice-captain has been accused of being dull, with a Twitter parody account called Boring Milner, but Jurgen Klopp insisted he is a comedian in the dressing room - and then made a joke at the player's expense.
"It could not be further from the truth," he said. "He is a proper English professional with the humour and his big mouth. He is a very funny person. I have no idea where it came from, perhaps it is having the same haircut since Leeds."
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