Lionel Messi: Liverpool will not man-mark the Barcelona star, Jamie Carragher claims (Image: GETTY)
The Reds face Barcelona in the first leg of their semi-final showdown at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night.
Jurgen Klopp’s men must get past Messi and Barcelona if Liverpool are to reach their second consecutive Champions League final.
Nou Camp talisman Messi has been sensational this season, with the Argentina international netting 46 goals in all competitions under Ernesto Valverde.
And Reds hero Carragher has opened up on Liverpool stopping Messi, claiming Klopp’s men must remain compact.
I don’t think Jurgen Klopp would ever do that [man-mark Lionel Messi]
Jamie Carragher
“One thing that never changes in football is that if you’re not compact, you can’t defend effectively,” Carragher told Goal.
“You have to close the gaps and the space.
“The genius of Messi, of course, means that even the best-laid plans can go out the window.
“What makes him special, the best in my view, is that he can hurt you without space.
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“He only needs half a yard and he can beat two or three and open the game up. In tight areas, there is nobody better.”
It has been claimed Klopp may get one of his midfielders to man-mark Messi on Wednesday evening.
However, Carragher insists Klopp will not waste a midfielder on following Messi, with the pundit claiming Liverpool are more likely to sit someone on Sergio Busquets.
“I don’t think Jurgen Klopp would ever do that,” he added.
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