Liverpool and Barcelona look like the two sides to beat in this season’s Champions League.

While the Reds finished top of the inaugural League Phase, Barca ran them close, ultimately settling for second.

Due to their placings as winner and runner-up, there is now no chance of the two clubs meeting before the final of the competition.

With Barca finally starting to click after some troubling years, that would be a superb showpiece event.

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And for Barcelona wonderkid Pau Cubarsi, the event would take on an extra special meaning.

The young centre-back would come face-to-face with his idol Virgil van Dijk.

As Cubarsi continues his ascent to being one of the top young centre-backs in Europe, the 18-year-old has spoken out on his admiration for the Liverpool captain.

Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images

A certain Lamine Yamal may have taken most of the headlines over recent times, but Cubarsi is another La Masia graduate who is absolutely smashing it at Camp Nou.

Despite only turning 18 in January, the centre-back has played more than 60 times for the Barca first-team and has five senior caps for Spain.

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A regular starter for Hansi Flick, Cubarsi looks set to be a mainstay for years to come.

And, naturally, his inspiration is Van Dijk.

Sitting down to speak to SPORT, the youngster was asked if he keeps an eye on any other defenders to hone his own game.

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“Yes, I love watching the Premier League and I admire Van Dijk,” Cubarsi answered.

It’s true that I pay a lot of attention to him.”

Although Liverpool are seemingly on the lookout for a young centre-back to add to their options this summer, there is very little chance Cubarsi will be on the radar.

As good as he is, it would surely be virtually impossible to prise him away from Barca.

Nevertheless, with Van Dijk’s future still very much up in the air, is there a chance the two could be paired together at Camp Nou next season?

Rousing The Kop understands that Van Dijk’s camp have offers on the table from elsewhere but whether one of these is from Barcelona is unclear.

Liverpool players are becoming unsettled by Van Dijk’s ongoing situation, but there remains a confidence the 33-year-old will pen an extension at Anfield.