UCL Semi-Finals: Liverpool Van Dijk 'ready' for Barcelona, it will be 'unbelievably tough'

Defender Virgil Van Dijk celebrates after scoring for Liverpool

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk insists he harbours no fear by the challenge of trying to stop Lionel Messi and Barcelona in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-finals first leg clash at Camp Nou.


Messi helped deliver back-to-back LaLiga titles for Barca – his 10th league title with the club – and the Spanish giants are now eyeing a treble.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 46 goals this season, 10 of those coming in the Champions League, but Van Dijk recently crowned PFA Players’ Player of the Year on Sunday in England does not fear Messi despite his achievements this season.

“I think he is the best player in the world,” Van Dijk, said in a media conference ahead of the game.

“We don’t defend one v one, we defend all together and we attack all together as well, so we will see. We will be ready.”

“The situation is that we are in the semi-final against Barcelona and we are going to face the best player in the world but it is not only him, the whole team has a lot of quality.

“It is going to be unbelievably tough because Barcelona are one of the best teams in the world but anything can happen."