Lothar Matthäus makes a bold prediction about Liverpool ahead of Barcelona clash

Follow us on Google Discover

Barcelona play host to Liverpool in the Champions League tonight.

German footballing legend Lothar Matthäus spoke exclusively to the Sun ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Barcelona tonight, and predicted that Jurgen Klopp’s side will score at the Camp Nou, whilst warning Virgil van Dijk to focus on marking Luis Suarez rather than Lionel Messi.

The Reds have been in excellent form this season, and currently sit in second spot in the Premier League table, one point adrift of league leaders Manchester City, whilst Barca have already won La Liga with three games still remaining.

Liverpool will be tested to the maximum against Barcelona tonight, and all of their players will have to be on their very best form, if they are to have any chance whatsoever of returning to Merseyside with a positive result to show for their efforts.

And Matthäus shared his belief that Liverpool will score in the Camp Nou tonight, when speaking exclusively to the Sun:

“Barca were far too good for Manchester United in the last round but Liverpool are a different proposition. Liverpool are more compact and powerful than United were. They are more aggressive, too, with a different body language to Barca. I’m sure Liverpool will score in the Nou Camp — even if they don’t win.”

He then went on to suggest that Andy Robertson needs to be the man tasked with stopping Lionel Messi, rather than Virgil van Dijk:

For Van Dijk, who is so tall, it will not be easy against a player of Messi’s stature. Liverpool will not want to see that match-up because it means things are going wrong. Messi starts in a half-right position. So Andy Robertson must get as close as he can and the midfield has to try and crowd Messi out. That should allow Van Dijk to concentrate on Luis Suarez.”

Roberto Firmino is a doubt for tonight’s game, but apart from the Brazilian, Jurgen Klopp has a full compliment of players to choose from, and whichever side takes to the pitch, Barcelona will undoubtedly be in for a difficult night.