Milner explains how Jurgen Klopp's character changed during his time at Liverpool

James Milner knows Jurgen Klopp better than most, having played under the Liverpool boss for eight years

The veteran midfielder still speaks highly of his former boss, as shown by his recent comments on Klopp and how the Liverpool manager "changed" over the course of his tenure.

Milner was a vital part of Klopp's illustrious Liverpool reign and has a Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup to show for his efforts

He is widely viewed as one of the best free transfers of recent times, having joined from Manchester City for nothing

Speaking The Football’s Greatest Managers Podcast with Jeff Stelling, Milner was asked if the Reds boss "mellowed" during his reign.

Milner

"Yeah, he did,"

"At the start there were not many days off, a lot longer and harder training at times. And then I think to his credit, Germany was a lot different as they have the winter break, whereas England Christmas is the busiest period and I think he learnt to trust the team.

"I think he had ideas about players and maybe English players as well, they like to drink a lot, don’t prepare well and I think he saw with the squad he had that it wasn’t like that and if players got a day off they would look after themselves.

"To his credit he changed things and softened as time went on, but never lost his edge.

"He was more definitely aggressive at the start, he lost his rag a bit more at the start, but that is setting the standards, it’s probably the players he had wasn’t his squad and he wanted to get his point across."