Latest Liverpool news: Virgil van Dijk claims Liverpool will defend as a unit against Barcelona

Liverpool defender and newly crowned PFA Player of the Year, Virgil van Dijk, claimed that the Reds will deal with Barcelona as a unit.

The Merseyside giants travel to Barcelona for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final and it will pit one of the best defenders against one of the best attackers in the world.

Van Dijk spoke prior to the meeting on Wednesday where he praised Lionel Messi, but claimed the team would do a job against the Catalans (h/t Guardian):

“I think he is the best player in the world.

“But you see how we play and how we defend. 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 Dutch defender added that the entire Barcelona team is quality, not just Messi, and was confident the Reds would do well:

“We will prepare well and we have also a very good team so we can compete there. It is not like we are going there for a holiday.”

Van Dijk knows how tough Barcelona will be

The Catalans wrapped up another La Liga title at the weekend, and Van Dijk claimed that the clash against Barcelona would be tough.

The Dutch defender played for Celtic at the Nou Camp but the tie ended 6-1 in the favour of the home team years ago.

Van Dijk is playing for a stronger team now, and we have the best defence in the Premier League too.

The Reds have an excellent attack too, and both legs of the semi-finals should be a treat for football lovers.

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Nullifying Messi and company won’t be easy, but we have the talent to get a positive result from the Nou Camp.