OPINION
After a successful campaign so far with Liverpool Virgil Van Dijk will be looking to continue his form as his side face Barcelona in the Champions League this week.
The 27-year old has been a brick wall for the Reds this season, but he will have a tough task coming up against the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez later this week.
Incredibly, Van Dijk has not been dribbled past a single time in the Premier League this season (Source:BBC) however his abilities will be tested in Liverpool’s Champions League fixture on Wednesday.
Arguably, if anybody is going to dribble past the Netherlands international this season, Lionel Messi definitely has one of the best chances to do so.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will have a rough time trying to keep Barcelona’s front line quiet over the two legs, however they should be quietly confident in their defensive abilities, especially considering Van Dijk’s current record.
Of course, the standard of players in the later stages of the Champions League are levels above the majority of attackers in which Van Dijk will have come up against this season, however the 27-year old has already coped well against top-class strikers in Europe this season, Robert Lewandowski being the main example.
There is no doubt that Messi will be looking to ruin the defender’s impressive record when Liverpool travel to the Camp Nou, and Van Dijk should certainly be preparing for the worst outcome, should Messi be on form.
There will be a lot to deal with on the night, without even mentioning Barca’s other attacking options in Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele.
Either way, Van Dijk will have a full plate dealing with the attacking force of Barcelona, and there is a big possibility that his record will be no longer after the two legs.
With that in mind he is surely fearing his impressive record this season will come undone against Barcelona.
