Barça star Messi terrifies Liverpool heading into Champions League clash

Liverpool have returned to their best in recent years. Runners-up in the Champions League last season, they're still in the fight for the Premier League with Manchester City this year. They have lost just one game and with two games to go are just one point behind. There's a good argument to be made that they can beat Barcelona in the Champions League semifinal, but they fear one factor: Lionel Messi. 

The Argentine has already taken out Lyon and Manchester United with braces at Camp Nou. He is a predator and with the support of the home fans he becomes an even more terrifying enemy. Liverpool know that a large part of the tie will depend on him when the first leg is played on Wednesday at Camp Nou. And they know that if he's tuned in, there's nothing they can do. 

Klopp's selfie 

Messi is feared and admited in the United Kingdom. Jurgen Klopp prasied him when asked to compare him with Cristiano Ronaldo. "I only have one selfie on my phone and it's with Messi. Cristiiano was also in the room," the German coach said. 

Klopp is fan of Barça and Messi's style of play. Even though it's different to his, Klopp's more direct, he's praised the Catalans: "Barcelona is style. They play everywhere, they go to so many places that you end up not knowing where they are." 

The only experience he has against Barça was a friendly at Wembley in 2016. Liverpool won 4-0. In official games, he's not faced them, although he attended a Champions League match against Borussia Mönchengladbach later in 2016.

Admired in the dressing room

Messi's a reference for the world's best players. Mohamed Salah has been referred to as the 'Egyptian Messi.' The player doesn't share that, though: "He's been at the top level for more than 10 years. His performances are so consistent. I hope I can achieve that." 

One of those tasked with stopping him will be Virgil van Dijk. The Premier League Player of the Year admitted that "I don't know how to stop Messi." In any case, the Dutch defender added that "it's a job which we all have to do together because we have the best player in the world in front of us." 

Van Dijk is ready for the worst against Leo, worse that what happened to James Milner. The midfielder played for Manchester City in 2015 when they met Barça in the last 16 at Camp Nou. Milner was nutmegged by Messi at Camp Nou, which brought Pep Guardiola, who was there as a fan, to his feet in applause. 

Milner admitted years later that "when I faced Messi he tore me to shreds, although I wasn't the first and I won't be the last."

Alisson Becker had a better experience against Messi. He was in goal for Roma in last year's quarterfinal tie. He didn't conced in the second leg as the Italians sprung a surprise but he recognised that Barca's No.10 is "the best footballer I have played against in my career."