Virgil van Dijk is “grateful” he does not have to face Lionel Messi every season, with the Barcelona superstar having put on another Champions League masterclass against Liverpool.
The Reds headed to Camp Nou for the first leg of a semi-final showdown aware of what they were up against.
A five-time Ballon d’Or winner always threatened to be a serious thorn in their side, even with claims that Jurgen Klopp should have no specific plans for him taken into account.
Editors' Picks
Liverpool had hoped to offer an attacking threat of their own in Catalunya, but found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline that leaves their European dream in tatters.