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Van Dijk: We will defend as a unit against Messi

tlw content

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tlw content Grand Master

tlw content

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Liverpool can look forward to a mouth-watering semi final Champions League tie against Barcelona after overcoming Porto 4-1 on Wednesday night and 6-1 on aggregate.

The home team came out with all guns blazing with a clear plan to put the Reds on the back foot, looking to shoot at Alisson's goal wherever possible, and with their vocal crowd in full voice it seemed we could be in for quite a second leg.

But while the Liverpool team of old may well have crumbled under the pressure, this team is made of strong stuff, and were able to weather the early storm.

When Sadio Mane put the ball in the net after 26 minutes after some VAR intervention, there was always going to be one winner.

The second half was certainly a less frenetic affair with the visitors well and truly in control.

Jurgen Klopp even saw a opportunity to give Joe Gomez a run-out, the first time he has seen minutes since he sustained his untimely injury against Burnley in early December.

The other members of the front three added their names to the scoresheet in the second half, with Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino now sitting alongside Ian Rush with 14 Champions League goals for the Reds.

The fourth goal was a header by the leader of the defence in Virgil Van Dijk.

The Dutchman was naturally asked after the game about the fixture on the horizon against the Catalan giants, and specifically how are they going to combat arguably the best player in World Football in Lionel Messi.

Metro (via Viasport Futbol) reported Van Dijk as saying:

‘I don’t know, we’ll see. It’s going to be a great match-up for all of us. ‘

 

"Obviously we’re very happy to be in the semi-final again and that’s the only thing I can say.

 

vandijk2_600.jpg

 

Van Dijk said how the Reds defence combat a key attacking threat is through a complete team effort.

‘It’s about doing it all together, it’s never 1 vs 1, it’s never just me against a particular striker. 

"It’s always us against everyone and I think that’s the only way we can defend well.

"And it’s going to be very hard and I think he’s the best player in the world but we’ll see."

Jurgen Klopp is also looking forward to facing one of Europe's elite teams at such an important time of the competition, especially as it will the first time he has come face to face with Barcelona in a competitive fixture.

But first things first  Sky Sports reported the manager as saying his thoughts are firmly focused on Cardiff this Sunday.

"We are in the semi-finals and on Sunday we play Cardiff, that is in my mind and will be in my mind 100 per cent when I wake up tomorrow, not how we play against Barcelona.

"We have time for that. I am looking forward to it and it's brilliant, but not tonight.

"We have to get ourselves ready for another intense football game.

 

"Cardiff are back in the race after the result yesterday (a 2-0 win over Brighton) so they will fight for it and I don't think it will be less intense than tonight. That's the next job to do.

"The fact there is a proper game between Liverpool and Barcelona is really good news. I am really proud of the boys, it is brilliant what they did. I am really happy."

There is sure to be endless questions asked of both Klopp and the members of the squad in the next week or so.

However as they have done all season, you will back them to keep a intense focus at the job at hand.

And for the next two fixtures, that remains the title race in the Premier League.


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magicrat Grand Master

magicrat

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44 minutes ago, TheHowieLama said:

The best chance you have of catching him is in the tunnel before the match - would detail Moreno to go up and do the big hug, see ya next year on the bench monologue and have him stand dead hard on his foot.

Moreno would forget the brief and go and stand on Mo's foot

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Give all our players a whoopee cushion and when Messi gets near any of our players get them to make their best farting noises. Confusion will conquer all. 

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