Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp saluted “role model" James Milner after they maintained their quadruple challenge with a 1-0 Premier League victory at Newcastle.

The 36-year-old former Magpie, who made his senior debut for Leeds almost 20 years ago, was one of five men drafted into Klopp's much-changed starting line-up for a vital league game sandwiched between the two legs of the Champions League semi-final clash with Villarreal, and turned in a fine individual display.

Asked if he had come across a fitter 36-year-old, Klopp said with a smile: “No, but it would be interesting to look at Luka Modric. Is he not 36 as well? It was obviously a good generation.

“No, it's difficult to be fitter than Milly. He's a role model. I have told him, I can tell the whole world – nothing we have achieved in the last few years would have happened without James Milner, it's as easy as that.

“Whether he was on the pitch or not, he's set standards in a way not a lot of people can set standards, and it educated all of us."