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Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has claimed that one of the players the club have lost this summer cannot be replaced.
The Reds are currently undergoing a midfield exodus as several Liverpool midfielders have either run their contracts down or been sold by the club this summer.
Ex-captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho has made their way to Saudi Arabia, while the likes of Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and Naby Keita saw the expiry of their contracts.
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The midfielder that Alexander-Arnold is talking about though is none other than Premier League veteran James Milner.
Milner was often seen as a leader in that successful Liverpool team, always seeming to put in a solid performance whether that be in the starting XI or off the bench.
Despite the high-profile signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai so far, Trent knows the size of the loss that Milner will be, with suggestions that he will try to emulate his former teammate in terms of his leadership.
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Speaking to the Daily Mail, Trent said: “I play a role by making sure I drive standards every day. Losing Milner, you can’t replace that directly. It will take numerous people. Others have to step up. We need to make sure that the way he kept driving us forward is replaced.
“I am self-aware. I know I will never be a James Milner. I will never be that type of leader but the leadership qualities I do have, I need to show and they need to be seen and heard and used in a way that is effective for the team. I need to keep pushing forward to try to achieve the things I want to achieve.”
The ex-Manchester City midfielder signed a deal with Brighton this summer following the expiration of his Liverpool contract.
Someone who will always speak highly of the midfielder is Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who spoke shortly after Milner's exit: “A pleasure and a challenge. In the same moment (it) means a pleasure because of his exceptional attitude, really.
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“I think for a lot of experienced players you use from time to time the word 'role model'. But Millie is the role model, how he puts himself pretty much in place to be every day 100 per cent ready.
“It's a pure example; absolutely outstanding. [It was] a challenge because especially in the beginning everything was alright when he was starting, but when he didn't start then that was a bit tricky. I never saw a bigger mood change in an instant!”
Liverpool have been trying to find a defensive midfield replacement, with the club embroiled in a transfer saga involving Brighton's Moises Caicedo and Chelsea.
Despite an agreement reached with the Seagulls, it looks like Caicedo only wants Chelsea and is set to move to London and snub the Merseyside outfit.
Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, James Milner