Jurgen Klopp says Nicolo Barella’s absence for Inter Milan ‘not bad’ for Liverpool ahead of Champions League last-16 tie

Jurgen Klopp has conceded that Nicolo Barella’s absence is “not bad” for Liverpool ahead of their Champions League last-16 tie with Inter Milan. Sent off in Inter’s final group stage game against Real Madrid for hitting out at Eder Militao after the Brazilian defender barged him into the advertising boards, Barella is currently serving a two-match suspension and, as such, will miss both legs of Liverpool’s tie against the Italian champions. Ad/> The 25-year-old has been one of the Nerazzurri’s most influential players over the last few seasons, earning a reputation as a smart distributor as well as an interception and turnover specialist in midfield.

Having won the Scudetto with Inter last term, his performances were also crucial to Italy winning Euro 2020. Premier LeagueKlopp: We avoided a banana skinYESTERDAY AT 17:29 Given his enthusiasm for counter-pressing, it’s no surprise that Klopp admires Barella. Asked whether his suspension would make life easier for his side ahead of the first leg at San Siro, the Liverpool boss grinned and said: “That Barella is not able to play is not bad for us! “He is a really good player, a really good player.

I like him a lot. He has all the things you want from a midfield player. He’s aggressive, he’s technically [good], he can run for ages and all these kinds of things.

“So he’s a top-class player. But – I’m not 100 per cent sure – probably the replacement will be Arturo Vidal. So that’s experience at its best.