Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool’s defence is well-equipped to handle Lionel Messi.
Van Dijk will take on the Barcelona talisman in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg, barely 72 hours after being crowned the PFA Player of the Year.
The Holland captain has been an imperious presence for the Reds and remains the only defender yet to be dribbled past in the Premier League this season.
He is set to face the sternest test of the current campaign and his entire career when he comes up against a player he hails as the best in the world in Messi.
But Van Dijk is confident that Jurgen Klopp’s side are set up to withstand the Argentine’s threat as the Catalans aim to build on their La Liga title success.
He said: “I think he is the best player in the world, I have said that before.
“But you see how we play, 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.
“The situation is that we are in the semi-final against Barcelona and we are going to face one of the best players, I think the best player in the world.
“But it is not only him, the whole team has a lot of quality and we will prepare well and that is what we are going to do.
“We have also a very good team so we can compete there as well so it is not like we are going there for a holiday or something.”
Van Dijk previously stepped out at the Nou Camp when Celtic slumped to a 6-1 group stage defeat in Europe’s premier club competition back in December 2013.
“It is a nice stadium, a historic stadium and for me it was a great experience to play over there,” he added.
“It was my first time, my only time and my last time so far so I am looking forward to playing them again, one of the best teams in the world.
“But I think this can be totally different than when I was there the last time.”