Former Liverpool hero Luis Suarez has been chatty ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League clash with the Reds this week.
In his latest titbit, he told the Catalan club’s official website that he’s been in touch with Jordan Henderson “a lot” ahead of the tie.
The semi-final first leg will be the first time Suarez – and Phil Coutinho – face Liverpool in a competitive fixture since departing the club and emotions are sure to be rife.
“[Barca and Liverpool have] two different styles,” Suarez told Barca Video. “Liverpool have a way of playing, it might surprise people but they can play out from the back and have excellent players in midfield who can get the ball to the forwards.
“They can play in a way that is similar to our way of playing. I don’t think there is much difference, what’s true is that both teams are very strong and the other one will have to look out.
“Obviously it’s exciting to be going back, to play at a ground like Anfield where the fans looked after me. I talk to Henderson a lot and he’s obviously looking forward to playing against Philippe and myself and we’ve said that it will be special.
“But now each one is playing for their team and doing their best. Obviously I remember the people there with a lot of affection. I speak to people who are still there and they miss those moments that we had together.”
The Uruguayan heads into the game having not scored in his previous eight Champions League fixtures, but he’ll surely be a threat to the Reds’ defence.
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Barcelona are yet to defeat Liverpool and were eliminated from Europe’s elite competition the last time the clubs met 12 years ago. There were concerns Bobby Firmino, Mo Salah and Fabinho may not travel to Spain, but they’ve now been quashed with the announcement of the travelling squad.
Liverpool squad in full: Fabinho, van Dijk, Gini, Lovren, Milner, Keita, Bobby, Mane, Mo, Gomez, Alisson, Hendo, Sturridge, Moreno, Ox, Mignolet, Shaqiri, Brewster, Robbo, Origi, Matip, Kelleher, Trent.
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) April 30, 2019