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It is Europe’s elite, the cream of the continental crop.

And Liverpool will go into the semi-finals of the Champions League not only fearing none of the other three teams left standing... but demanding respect from them for their own stirring deeds in the competition so far.

The draw will be made at noon on Friday, with Jurgen Klopp’s side bracing themselves for a tie against either a Real Madrid side chasing a hat-trick of European Cup triumphs, brilliant Bayern Munich, or Roma, shock midweek slayers of Barcelona.

Yet the confidence that now abounds at Anfield, and was evident in two pulsating quarter-final ties against runaway Premier League title winners Manchester City, means they will take whatever comes out of the hat with no trepidation.

(Image: Getty) (Image: Getty)

That much was expressed by their Man of the Match in Tuesday's second leg at the Etihad, defender Dejan Lovren, who believes a combination of Liverpool’s clinical goal threat and their new-found steel at the back means the other teams will not fancy coming to Merseyside.

He says: “When you look at the teams, you need to respect everyone — especially Real Madrid, who we need to respect more because they won the Champions League three times in the last four years.

“But against City, we did it in the second half, we did it brilliantly defensively again and we showed again we can do it.

“We scored five goals over the two legs and conceded one against one of the best teams in the world, so, you know, they need to respect that!

(Image: Action Images via Reuters) (Image: AFP)

“Whoever we get will find it difficult to come to Anfield and score some goals.”

While Roma are the shock presence in the draw after their magnificent defeat of Barca having lost the first leg 4-1 in the Nou Camp, the other two possible opponents will come as no surprise to anyone.

Real are going for a fourth Champions League triumph since 2014, and in the four years prior to the Madrid-era, Bayern made three of four finals in the competition, from 2010-13.

They are teams who really do have the Champions League t-shirt, but Lovren believes that Liverpool should not be afraid because the Anfield crowd can give them an edge... though he admits he would prefer to avoid Madrid until the final.

(Image: Real Madrid/Getty) (Image: Reuters) (Image: AFP/Getty)

“The competition is wide open and anything is possible now," said the Croatia international.

“From a personal point of view, I don’t want Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

“They have a lot of experience in the Champions League, a lot of records and over the past four seasons it is always them.

“I would choose Bayern or Roma, definitely, and then for the final maybe we can have Real Madrid.

(Image: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

“But it feels great to be in the semi-final. I said in the dressing room after (the City game) it feels too quiet for that - maybe we still don’t realise we are in the semi-final! But we will, and we will be ready.”

Lovren has confidence because he knows Liverpool have the most potent weapon currently operating in European football, with Mo Salah’s goals.

But it is the defence which has been the revelation, with he formed a dominating partnership with January signing Virgil van Dijk, which has added an extra dimension to the Reds.

(Image: Offside/Getty)

“What can you say about Mo? It is just brilliant, a pleasure to have a player like him in our team, but we help him - helping him to be one of the best players in the world,” said Lovren.

“You know he’s such a cool guy you can not believe how enjoyable it is to share a dressing room with him, he’s top class as simple as that.

“And we have shown we can do it (in defence) too. We were confident against City, we were so very good defensively again, and we have shown what we can do.”