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Liverpool confirm out-of-contract quartet will leave this summer

Liverpool confirm out-of-contract quartet will leave this summer
© Reuters
Liverpool confirm that all of Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner will leave the club when their contracts expire this summer.

Liverpool have confirmed that all of Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner will leave the club when their contracts expire this summer.

Each member of the quartet has been a long-serving member of the Reds' squad during Jurgen Klopp's reign, but none has played a significant role in the team's turbulent 2022-23 season.

Firmino and Keita have been beset by injuries during their farewell season, while Oxlade-Chamberlain has simply fallen down the pecking order amid competition for midfield starts.

Milner has also played a bit-part role this term, but Klopp opened the door to keeping the 37-year-old at the club given his experience and influence in the dressing room.

However, Liverpool have now announced that all four players will seek pastures new upon the expiration of their deals, although it was already confirmed that Firmino would depart.

Liverpool attacker Roberto Firmino pictured on May 15, 2023© Reuters

Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain were also not expected to be handed new contracts, while Milner has seemingly rejected the chance to continue at Anfield amid rumours of a summer move to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The quartet's final home fixture for Liverpool will come on Saturday as Aston Villa pay a visit to Anfield, and the Reds have revealed that "special acknowledgements" will be paid to Keita, Milner, Firmino and Oxlade-Chamberlain, all of whom have helped the Reds win the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and EFL Cup.

Liverpool's final game of the season sees Klopp's men travel to already-relegated Southampton on May 28, and there is hope that Firmino will be back from a muscular problem in time for the Reds' last two matches.

The Brazilian has come up with 11 goals and five assists in 33 games during his final campaign at Anfield, but he has been restricted to a mere 12 Premier League starts due to fitness issues and competition for places.

Firmino and Keita have been keeping each other company on the sidelines over the past few weeks, as the latter has also been nursing a muscular problem - the latest in a long line of physical glitches since his 2018 move from RB Leipzig.

Naby Keita in action for Liverpool in January 2023© Reuters

The Guinea international has just 11 goals and seven assists to show from 129 games in a Liverpool shirt, failing to directly contribute to a goal in 13 games this season and missing a further 97 matches through injury or illness over the past five years.

Meanwhile, Oxlade-Chamberlain has managed to put his own injury issues behind him this season, but the 29-year-old has also featured on just 13 occasions this term, scoring once in January's 3-1 loss to Brentford.

The ex-Arsenal man has failed to make Liverpool's squad for their last nine Premier League games, with his last appearance in the top flight coming in April's 4-1 loss to Manchester City.

Finally, Milner has remained a regular fixture of Klopp's matchday squads with 41 appearances in all competitions, setting up one goal in the Premier League and another in the EFL Cup.

However, the 37-year-old has only made the first XI on six occasions in the top flight, as well as starting three Champions League games as Liverpool's captain.

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