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Liverpool's season depends on them beating not just the favourites for the Europa League... but one of the best teams in the world right now.

That's the grim message from Germany as the Reds prepare for a trip to face Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of a quarter-final which will define their entire campaign.

The size of the task facing Jurgen Klopp as he returns home is emphasised by the fact it is Manuel Neuer - goalkeeper for Dortmund's long-time rivals Bayern Munich – who claims the Anfield club are facing “one of the five strongest teams worldwide”.

Yet if that is a daunting prospect, made even more difficult by news that top scorer Roberto Firmino is a major injury doubt, then at least James Milner is also warning the Germans that his side fear no one.

Neuer was offering a revealing insight in an exclusive interview with BT Sport, where he pondered the state of the English game, and suggested Liverpool may be out of their depth when they come up against Klopp’s former team.

In pictures — Dortmund beat visitors Spurs 3-0 in the previous round:

“Dortmund are undoubtedly one of the five strongest teams in Europe, or even worldwide in my opinion, even though they are not playing in the Champions League,” the world number one keeper said.

“At Bayern, it was clear to us that after a poor season [Dortmund finished seventh in Klopp's final campaign, after being BOTTOM of the Bundesliga in the February], they would come back.

"It was clear as well that they were going to be our biggest rival.”

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Germany first-choice Neuer also believes Liverpool face a huge problem against the team who swept title-chasing Tottenham aside 5-1 on aggregate in the previous round precisely because of the strength of the Premier League, which undermines our clubs' European efforts.

“The English teams have a lot of money and good players, but it’s important that you don’t just focus on being number one in England,” he added.

(Image: Reuters)

“You also have to keep an eye on the other teams in Europe and look what Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Dortmund and Juventus do, and compare yourself to these clubs.

“It’s not about looking for and getting the best player in the world and thinking that it will all work out. You need to have a certain structure, five or six English players who identify with and know the club very well, don’t change the club and the character of the team every year.”

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While Liverpool have painfully endured that precise process of changing their identity completely in the past two seasons, Milner believes that for all their inconsistency and the quality of Thursday’s opponents, they have proven themselves against the top clubs this year.

(Image: Jason Brown/JMP/REX)

“We don’t fear anyone and we’ve proved this year we can beat anyone,” he insisted.

“We have to make sure we’re on our game and if we do that we’ve got every chance of going through to the next round.”

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The Reds’ task though, is not helped by the news that forward Firmino is a major doubt with a hamstring injury.

He will undergo a fitness test at training on Merseyside, before Klopp’s team fly to Germany later on Wednesday.

* BT Sport is your home of unmissable live football. Watch Bayern Munich v Benfica in the UEFA Champions League exclusively live on BT Sport 2 from 7pm this evening.