Firmino back in training for Barcelona clash as Van Dijk warns ‘Messi is not only threat for Liverpool’

ROBERTO FIRMINO has given Liverpool a major boost by returning to training ahead of tomorrow's Champions League clash with Barcelona.

Firmino missed Friday's 5-0 Premier League win over Huddersfield with a groin problem which has been plaguing him in recent weeks.

But the Brazilian striker, 27, looked sharp and ready for action as he joined his team-mates in training this morning before the squad flew out to Spain.

Jurgen Klopp's side take on the newly-crowned La Liga champions on Wednesday night in the first-leg of the semi-final.

And the news that Firmino, who scored in both legs of the quarter-final victory over Porto, is available will be a major boost to the Reds boss.

Liverpool know that it is vital they shackle the game-changing ability of Lionel Messi if they are to seal a place in the final in Madrid on June 1.

Messi destroyed Manchester United as Barcelona eased through to the last four and is the obvious danger to the Reds.

QUALITY

But defender Virgil van Dijk has warned his Anfield team-mates that they cannot afford to get too hung up on stopping the Argentina star because Barca possess so many other dangerous players.

Van Dijk said: "I think he's the best player in the world, I've said that before.

"But it's not just about him, the whole team has a lot of quality.

"But we also have a good team, so we can certainly compete with them. It's not like we're going there for a vacation or something.

"When you see how we play and defend, we don't do that one-on-one. We are defending all of us and we are attacking all of us."

Van Dijk's only previous experience of playing in the Nou Camp was with Celtic, when Barca romped to a 6-1 win over the Scottish side.

The Dutchman added: "I have seen some videos, but if you lose 6-1 you cannot say that you played a good game as a defender.

"But for me the positive thing was that I gained a lot of experience during that evening and that certainly helped me.

"It is a beautiful and historic stadium and it was a great experience for me to play there.

"It was my first and only time so far, so I'm looking forward to playing against them again. But I think this can be totally different than the first time I was there. "

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