While it is looking increasingly unlikely that Liverpool will win the Premier League this season, the Champions League is still very much up for grabs. Standing in their way of a second successive final appearance is Barcelona, who were crowned La Liga champions last night.
There is no shortage of quality players in the Barcelona squad, but it is difficult to look past the brilliance of Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar has been on an absolute tear for the past few months, reminding everybody why he is the best player in the world.
Jurgen Klopp will have a big job on his hands to try and contain Messi over the course of 180 minutes, but Danny Murphy believes that Messi will not be the main threat to Liverpool.
Writing in his Daily Mail column, the former England midfielder said that Liverpool have a midfield that should contain the world's best player. Instead, he thinks Klopp should concentrate on trying to stop left back Jordi Alba. No, seriously.
I don't want to tempt fate but I think Liverpool are better equipped to deal with Lionel Messi than Manchester United were at the Nou Camp.
They have to be concerned about Barcelona's wizard, of course, but not obsessively so. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Jurgen Klopp spends as much time working out how to deal with the runs from Jordi Alba at left back.
If Alba and Philippe Coutinho are allowed to go two-against-one with Trent Alexander-Arnold isolated, that does spell danger for Liverpool.
Alba is no doubt a threat, but to suggest Liverpool should devote more resources to stopping the Spaniard in comparison to Lionel Messi is asking for trouble.
Murphy suggests that Liverpool's midfield structure should choke the Argentine superstar of space, meaning no man-marking job is necessary. Instead, he suggests Jordan Henderson should be given the job of stopping Alba getting up the pitch.
But would that not completely mess up the midfield structure he said would be so key to stopping Messi? I suppose Danny Murphy has never let common sense dictate his punditry before.
I don't see the benefit in going man-to-man. Condense the space and if Messi ends up dropping too deep, that will suit Liverpool.
I think they have to be careful in the wide areas because Jordi Alba likes to bomb forward and the strengths of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah are going the other way.
If Alba is in advance of the Liverpool wingers and Coutinho cuts in from the left, it will give Alexander-Arnold a major headache. I think Henderson or someone like him might be detailed to be vigilant and move across to double up with the Liverpool right back when required.
Maybe this is why Murphy never became a coach.
