Virgil van Dijk’s battle with Lionel Messi was always going to among the fascinating duels in Liverpool’s Champions League encounter against Barcelona.On the one hand you had arguably the best centre-back in the world. The PFA Player of the Year and Liverpool’s giant at the back.On the other, you had the best player on the planet right now. Messi has been sublime this season, and is hungry to win the competition.It was an unstoppable force versus an immoveable object.Van Dijk made it clear before the match that he respects the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, but was confident about the challenge.
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“I think he is the best player in the world,” the Liverpool defender said, per The Guardian. “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.”
Messi v Van Dijk
The idea that Liverpool defend as a team was on show when Van Dijk was forced to follow Messi into the corner.
The Netherlands international, dragged virtually into left-back, called for his teammates to join him in defending against Messi.
Van Dijk is yet to be dribbled passed in the Premier League and the Champions League this season.
Getting help to defend Messi is a way to help protect that stat.
Barcelona lead 2-0 at the time of writing thanks to goals from Luis Suarez and Messi.