Spain legend hails 'special' Liverpool
Two fixtures against Liverpool at Anfield were enough to instil in Barcelona and Spain legend Xavi Hernandez a sense that there is 'something special' about the club.
A midfielder of world renown, the 34-year-old has twice lined up in opposition at the Reds' home stadium - in Champions League clashes of November 2001 and March 2007.
Since then, Xavi's metronomic approach and natural vision for the demands of a central role in the team for both club and country have earned plaudits from all quarters of the sport.
As well as being at the forefront of Barcelona's tiki-taka revolution in recent times, he significantly helped Spain to two European Championship successes and a World Cup in between from 2008 to 2012.
His career has taken him to every corner of the globe, through club contests and international matches, but Anfield made a lasting impression that Xavi remembers years later.
"Liverpool is a team that has something special - the stadium, the fans, everything," the Barça star told Match of the Day Kickabout.
In addition to namechecking former Reds winger John Barnes as an idol to the young, aspiring Xavi, the Spaniard also picked out Raheem Sterling as a player he now watches closely.
"Sterling has a great future ahead of him," he added of the 19-year-old forward, who has made 93 appearances for Liverpool and scored 15 times since a debut in March 2012.