Valverde and Barcelona Prepare for “Extraordinary” Pressure

Barcelona head into tonight’s game knowing at some point a switch will flip and Liverpool will try to overwhelm them. Barcelona have the game’s best ever player leading their attack tonight, and with Lionel Messi given support by Luis Suarez they have one of the most dangerous forward lines in Europe. Liverpool, though, don’t look too bad in that department, either.

They may not have an individual to match Messi—nobody does, after all—but between Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Roberto Firmino they have a complete attacking unit that on its game might just measure up to the one that calls the Camp Nou home.

“They’re very strong, extraordinary up front, they press and play with a very high rhythm and pace,” was Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde’s take on the challenge his side will fac...