Jurgen Klopp hails Zlatan Ibrahimovic as ‘one of the best ever’ ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with AC Milan

Ahead of AC Milan’s trip to Anfield tomorrow night, Jurgen Klopp was asked for his views on Zlatan Ibrahimovic during his press conference.

The German manager was quick to heap praise on the striker - who enjoyed a successful spell with Manchester United a few years ago.

“Zlatan, what a player, what a player,” Klopp said.

“He is a man for exceptional moments in the game.

“Zlatan is for sure one of the best players ever in this game. He knows that and I like that about him and that’s the confidence he brings with him into games.”

It was confirmed earlier today that the 39-year-old will miss AC Milan’s Champions League opener in Liverpool tomorrow through injury.

The former Barcelona forward is being rested as a precaution after feeling pain in his Achilles tendon during training on Tuesday.

Ibrahimovic only returned from four months out with a knee injury on Sunday, scoring in their 2-0 victory over Lazio to make him Serie A’s oldest foreign goalscorer.

“For him to still be that physically fit, it’s incredible,” Klopp said.

“It just shows that maybe some careers ended too early because there was still a little bit of fuel in the tank and he obviously squeezes every last drop out of his body and he wants to stay in the game as long as possible.”

Liverpool and AC Milan haven’t met in a competitive fixture since the Champions League Final in 2007, where the Italian side celebrated a 2-1 win thanks to a brace from Filippo Inzaghi.

However, Reds’ fans will immediately think back to their penalty shoot-out win in the 2005 Champions League Final - when Steven Gerrard, Vladamir Smice and Xabi Alonso helped them to one of the greatest comebacks after after initially being 3-0 down in Istanbul.

Both sides will be in high spirits ahead of tomorrow night’s clash after unbeaten starts to their respective campaigns.