Lionel Messi: Barcelona legend Xavi drops Liverpool warning regarding Alisson
BARCELONA legend Xavi has warned Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson will need to produce his best ever performance to stop Lionel Messi - and even that might not be enough to stop him running riot at the Nou Camp tonight.
Barcelona: Lionel Messi is ‘IMPOSSIBLE to stop’ says Fowler
Barcelona welcome Liverpool to the Nou Camp for the Champions League blockbuster this evening.
The two giants go head-to-head for a place in the Champions League final in Madrid on June 1.
Barcelona are favourites with Lionel Messi still looking as good as ever and his former team-mate Xavi reckons it is nearly impossible to stop him.
Xavi identified goalkeeper Alisson as the man who will be busy trying to blunt Messi’s threat but admitted even his best could be below the level required.
“Messi is still the best player on the planet and greatest of all time,” he said.
“This season he is doing incredible things and showing such hunger. Alisson is a very good goalkeeper and is going to have to produce one of his best performances if he wants to stop Messi – but I am not sure that will be possible.”
Messi put Manchester United to the sword in the quarter-final with a Nou Camp double and is the main threat as Jurgen Klopp’s side pitch up in Spain this evening.
Barca have sealed the La Liga title with games to spare and can now concentrate all their attention on the Champions League.
Lionel Messi will be looking to put Liverpool the sword tonight (Image: GETTY)
Lionel Messi is hoping to add a fifth European Cup to his collection this season (Image: GETTY)
Lionel Messi has been in superb form again this season (Image: GETTY)
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
That’s a stark contract to Liverpool who remain one point behind Manchester City with two Premier League games to play.
Liverpool now face four games in 12 days as they look to win the title and progress to the Champions League final.
But, rather than complain about fixture congestion, Klopp is excited by the busy end to the season.
Trending
Liverpool will NOT man-mark Lionel Messi says Nicol
"It's brilliant," said the German. "The only thing that would be better is if someone told us we were already champions. In other years it could have been like this.
"But it's not a problem. We're completely fine. We like the situation - the boys created that.
"It's a wonderful situation, flying here to Barcelona. Two years ago it was a big thing for the club to qualify for the Champions League. Now we've reached the semi-finals for the second year in a row.”