Jose Mourinho thinks Barcelona will edge past Liverpool in their Champions League semi-final because of what Lionel Messi did to Manchester United in the previous round.
Barcelona beat United 4-0 on aggregate, with Messi scoring twice in the second leg at the Nou Camp to put the tie beyond Mourinho's former side.
Previewing the semi-final for RT, Mourinho explained that Liverpool's form this season would normally see them favourites for the tie, but Messi's consistent brilliance - like his brace against United - means Barcelona have the advantage.
Mourinho, whose last game in charge of United was a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool, said: "Liverpool's strength, Van Dijk is phenomenal, and then every game, okay not every one but... Firmino, Salah, Mane, they score and they score and they score.
"Tell me a game where Salah, Firmino, Mane all three together they didn't score. It's very rare.
"The reality is that Liverpool last season, they played the final and this season they are in the semi-finals with in my opinion 50% chances of being in the final.
"I think so, they are better [than last season]. I would say Barca without Messi, Liverpool are favourites.
"But Barca with Messi - Messi is Messi. I never say that Messi is the special one [of the week] in here, because everything he does he does all the time.
"So Messi the special one, because he scores two goals against Manchester United. He scores two goals all the time."
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