Laporta said: “It’s a clash between two great sides who’ve been European Cup champs in the last two seasons.
“It will be a major test for us but we will be looking forward to going to the home city of The Beatles.
“It will be a great privilege for me to take in some of Liverpool’s musical history. I can’t wait to go to The Cavern and other wonderful places associated with the band.
“This is the game I was hoping for. I think it will be a fantastic knockout tie between two champions. They are a strong rival who play very physical football and we know most of their players like Luis Garcia, who played for Barcelona, and Xabi Alonso.
“They have other high-level players like Steven Gerrard but we are the champions and the rival to beat.”
Barca director Josep Cubbel added: “We know Rafa Benitez from his time with Valencia and Liverpool’s Spaniards.
“Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia and Pepe Reina are a big influence for them and they are different in style from Chelsea – more Spanish.
“The tactics are very familiar to us and so meeting them may be less difficult for us than Chelsea.
“I don’t think there will be any problems between the clubs as we both speak the same language – Spanish!”
