Liverpool has confirmed the departure of four veteran players at the end of the current season, in an eye of a summer squad shakeup.
Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave when their contracts expire this summer, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.
“Each member of the foursome will begin new chapters in their careers at the end of the 2022-23 season, having helped the Reds win several of football’s biggest prizes during their spell at Anfield,” Liverpool said.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are set to wrap up a disappointing campaign after coming very close to the title four games back last year.
With two games left in the season, Liverpool depends on failures from Manchester United or Newcastle to qualify for the next Champions League. They are one point behind the top four in the table, but one game ahead of both teams.
It is expected that Klopp plans to strengthen the midfield and the departure of Keita, Milner, and Oxlade-Chamberlain will make it easier for him.
The Liverpool coach had already tweaked his attack with the departure of Sadio Mane at the end of last season and the recent signings of Darwin Nuñez, Luis Diaz a,nd Cody Gapko.
Firmino’s last season was marred by injuries and the Brazilian was relegated to the substitutes’ bench as he was in full physical condition.
Firmino, Keita, Milner, and Oxlade-Chamberlain were part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020.
“Four of them said goodbye to us with gratitude and appreciation for their contribution,” Liverpool said.
