Blood Red from Barcelona: No fear of the Nou Camp and how Liverpool will cope with their ultimate test

Our Liverpool FC reporting team of James Pearce and Ian Doyle have made their way to Barcelona, and on Monday afternoon, stationed themselves outside the Sagrada Familia to record a special Blood Red podcast, along with Andy Hunter, the Merseyside football correspondent for The Guardian and The Observer newspapers, to preview Wednesday's massive semi-final first leg at the Nou Camp. James starts the podcast with a big claim before Andy, who used to work for the Liverpool Daily Post, explains why the current Reds crop are better than the ones that won the club's last two European trophies. Whereas that latter success, and even the run to last season's Champions League final, came as a surprise, the panel are in no doubt that this Liverpool side are now at the elite level of European football and that they will hold no fear of Barcelona. That said they also agree that this is the Reds' biggest challenge yet, particularly as Barca's side contains Lionel Messi, not to mention Reds old boys Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho. James calls it the 'ultimate test' and, along with Ian and Andy, selects the midfield to deal with arguably the best player ever to grace the game. Another problem Jurgen Klopp has to solve is who replaces Roberto Firmino if the brilliant Brazilian is ruled out through injury. But the mood of the podcast is unashamedly positive - unsurprising given Klopp's European record as Reds manager and how he deals with pressure-cooker situations, which is discussed here - and one of excitement at what lies in store in one of the world's footballing cathedrals. If this doesn't get you fired-up for Wednesday, nothing will. Enjoy.
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