Benitez: Europe Is My Battleground

Rafael Benitez admits that he finds it easier to influence European games than he does Premier League matches.

The Liverpool boss was reflecting after masterminding the Champions League first-leg triumph over Inter Milan on Tuesday, that lifted months of gloom from Anfield.

What is clear is that European football is his chosen battle ground and he has delivered success against the likes of Chelsea, Juventus, Barcelona, AC Milan, Olympiacos and Marseille when Liverpool had been written off.

That the Spaniard produced again on the really big occasion is no longer a surprise to Anfield observers, who have long accepted that Benitez is better in Europe than he is in the Premier League.

How else do you explain how Liverpool can be so poor against Luton, Havant and Waterlooville, Barnsley and Wigan, while capable of beating one of the form teams of Europe?

And with his own back firmly against the wall after continued speculation over his future, Benitez can afford a wry smile as Liverpool dare to contemplate a 12th appearance in a European Cup quarter-final if they can survive in the San Siro on March 11.

Benitez said: "In Europe you can approach a game tactically in a different way.

"In England it is a different style of football and more difficult for the manager to influence what goes on.

"It is not as simple to influence the game with tactics in England the way it is elsewhere in Europe."

Liverpool will take a 2-0 lead to Milan for the last 16 second-leg next month, and Benitez insists: "We have made it very difficult for Inter now, two goals and a clean sheet.

"But they have a lot of good players and we will need to show plenty of respect and approach the game with confidence, but no complacency.

"There, I suppose, is the prospect of history repeating itself with us going for a European final when we are not in the title race (as in 2005).

"But I would prefer not to think that far ahead, I always say 'one game at a time' and never has that phrase been more appropriate.

Liverpool won their 100th home European game, and Benitez said: "We have an important and difficult game still to come, and the San Siro will be full and determined to help their side.

It took late strikes from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard to turn Liverpool superiority into Champions League points.

But Benitez said: "I always had confidence that we would score. We were attacking a lot and one goal I felt was likely. So to get two like we did was I suppose, a surprise. But we certainly deserved to at least score.

"The victory was important for the club. We needed to play well for our own people, and the attitude of the players was very good. The whole night was really important for everyone at Liverpool.

"Everyone knew we needed to perform well, that was really the point after so much had been said about us.

"I have always had confidence in the team. If we can play like we did against Inter over and over again, it will be good and we will win a lot of games.

"I know what people were saying (about me). But as a professional you must be ready for every game, to prepare for every game the best you can and with the same ideas.

"You must concentrate, analyse everything, but above all be professional and do your job as best you can whatever the circumstances.

"Maybe the 'dressing room' felt the need to prove people wrong. But their attitude was no different really to plenty of other games.

"Some games we have played well and not won. The difference this season is that we have not been scoring enough goals even when we are well on top, and we have conceded goals too easily at times.

"That is why the confidence goes and you cannot win games in those situations."

But he added: "This lead now is a big boost. We have confidence, because Inter are at the moment the best in Europe. They are top in Italy and have now lost just two games all season.

"If you can beat teams like that and play well, it gives us a high level of confidence in the squad.

"Now we have another important league game at the weekend at home to Middlesbrough. What we need to be is more consistent now.

"We must also accept that if we cannot score when we have clear chances we must keep going, keep working and make sure we do not concede a goal instead.

"We were aiming for a clean sheet, and two goals makes it better still.

"We will go to Milan with confidence but they are really good so we will not be over-confident.

"You could see the quality of Inter's players. And just look at their bench, they had (Patrick) Vieira, (Hernan) Crespo, (Luis) Figo plus very good defenders like (Nicolas) Burdisso.

"That is the sort of quality you are up against, that is why they will be very difficult in Milan."

Carragher Rebukes Benítez For Rotation

Jamie Carragher will arrive at his 100th European appearance for Liverpool at San Siro next month but, even with his vast experience, he is no closer to an explanation for his team's regular metamorphoses in the Champions League.

The Anfield vice-captain yesterday proffered Marco Materazzi's sending-off and an arcane spirit for Liverpool's victory over Internazionale, though a gentle rebuke for rotating in the wrong places revealed frustration at Rafael Benítez's methods. "There is just something about us that we are always confident in Europe," said Carragher. "We fielded our main players as well, which makes a difference, and the sending-off did help us."

Tuesday night provided another example of Liverpool's improved concentration, sense of occasion and, ultimately against the 10 men of Inter, penetration, as they rebounded from their FA Cup defeat by Barnsley. Four days earlier Benítez omitted Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and José Reina from his starting line-up and invited further pressure on his job as the club's last chance of a domestic trophy went begging (Fernando Torres had been unfit).

Even before graffiti appeared outside Melwood demanding Benítez select his strongest side, the manager admitted to a team meeting on Sunday that rest was no longer necessary in the pursuit of fourth place and a sixth European Cup.

"We've got four league games before the return and we have to reproduce this level of performance because we want to be in this competition next time as well," added Carragher, whose last performance on Italian soil will encourage Liverpool's hopes of finishing the task in Milan on March 11.

Of the defender's 99 European appearances, a club record, few have surpassed the night in April 2005 when he defied a Juventus attack containing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alessandro Del Piero. Fabio Capello's side needed to beat Jerzy Dudek only once to capitalise on their goal scored at Anfield - and this against a Liverpool starting XI including Djimi Traoré, Antonio Núñez, Igor Biscan and Milan Baros - but Carragher is not about to invite complacency.

"Even when they went to 10 men Inter impressed me, so I expect a very different game over there. The sending-off had an impact on the game but they defended brilliantly, even though we ended up getting those two goals. Before the game we would have been delighted with that result, and I must admit I did believe we were going to get a breakthrough. We created loads of chances, kept plugging away, and we got them in the end.

"It does put pressure on them now. It was very important not to concede a goal at home - that was the big thing in the minds of the lads at the back. I think 1-0 would have been a great result, and the second was just the icing on the cake."

The cake decorator, Gerrard, missed that goalless draw in Turin, Liverpool winning the quarter-final 2-1 on aggregate en route to victory in Istanbul, and Carragher believes his captain's performance against Inter demonstrated that he is warming to the competition once again.

"Stevie is one of the best players in the world," he insisted. "There are a lot of world-class players in the big teams in the Champions League but Stevie's the one who makes the decisive impact in the end. He stole the show again."

Dirk Kuyt's role in Tuesday's win should not be overlooked, however, nor Benítez's faith in a player whose father died following a long battle with cancer last year and who has endured a poor campaign since then.

"I have put a difficult period behind me and I only want to look forward now," said the Dutch forward, scorer of the first against Inter. "It was a great moment for me when I scored. It was so important. It's funny because I said to Stevie that maybe we should now just keep the ball and get a clean sheet. He said, 'No, we want another goal,' and he was right."

RED WATCH: Rafa’s A Consummate Tactician - On The Euro Stage

Rafa Benitez had taken so much flak this week that it was a wonder Mohamed Al-Fayed had not accused him of being part of the conspiracy to murder Princess Diana.

The moronic daubing of Melwood apart, much of the criticism aimed at Benitez appeared justified, the pathetic humbling by Barnsley seemingly applying the penultimate nail in a coffin containing Rafa’s Anfield career which could have been hermetically sealed by a poor result at home to Inter Milan on Tuesday.

Yet once again Benitez proved himself to be the consummate tactician on the European stage, engineering a superb victory on another memorable night at Anfield.

He deserves to take the credit for fielding an attacking formation which applied sustained pressure to the superbly-marshalled Italian defence, which culminated in the breach of the tiring 10-man rearguard in the last five minutes of Tuesday’s match.

The patience exercised by Liverpool as they probed for a weakness, while guarding against a potentially fatal breakaway away-goal, was absorbing.

For once, the substitutions were finely-judged and timed, the introduction of Crouch adding a further burden onto the weary backline shorn of the belligerent Materazzi in time for it to have a positive effect, rather than being the cue for a desperate launching of hopeful crosses into a packed penalty area. In short, Benitez got it right.

So in berating Benitez for his failure to date to mount a credible title challenge, are we failing to sufficiently acknowledge his mastery of this competition and the rewards it has brought to the club, and the joy to us supporters?

It appears that winning the league has assumed Holy Grail status amongst the fans, and understandably so, but should that lead to a state of denial about the achievements of Benitez on the biggest stage?

I sense that many supporters are beginning to progress through the five stages of Grief (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Newcastle Supporter) during which unrealistic expectations cause sufferers to focus on failures and become blind to other, perceived less important, successes.

For Newcastle, of course, this means avoiding relegation; for us, winning the Champions League.

I thought I would never feel the experience of those wonderful European triumphs of the late 70s and early 80s again in my lifetime, only for Istanbul and Athens, along with clashes with Juventus, Barcelona and Chelsea, to add to my collection of treasured memories.

Do we really want to risk throwing all this away to gamble on an alternative who might possibly deliver a league title?

Whatever your views on this, let’s not indulge ourselves in Soviet-style revisionism which denigrates the achievements of previous administrations. Gerard Houllier suffered from this in the latter stages of his tenure, with some fans belittling his five-trophy haul in 2001 as ‘lucky’ or won in poor style.

Benitez’s triumphs in Europe are to be admired not disregarded, and should be a source of pride for every true Red brought up in an environment in which Liverpool were one of the most respected teams in Europe.

So the next time you hear yourself saying “the Champions League is all right, but it’s the league we really want”, just reflect on similar sentiments expressed by Newcastle and Man City supporters in the past based on exaggerated expectations of league success, shortly before they changed managers and were relegated.

And just thank your lucky stars that you can experience nights like Tuesday, with the strong possibility of more to come.

Steven Gerrard Dedicates Liverpool's European Miracle To Rafa Benitez

Overjoyed Rafa Benitez hailed the "perfect" performance from his side, as they produced another European miracle at Anfield.

The normally cautious Liverpool boss could barely hide his delight, as mighty Inter Milan were humbled by two incredible late goals from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard.

Those two strikes in the final five minutes of a game that had everything - even the dismissal of the pantomime villain Marco Materazzi - could just have given Benitez a lifeline in the fight to save his job.

And he certainly believes that his team have taken a massive stride towards the quarter-finals, after delivering a knock out blow to opponents who had not lost for five months.

"I can't say enough about my team. To score twice at the end is perfect, and it will be very difficult for them now, because we have produced a fantastic performance," a delighted Benitez said.

"I am really pleased for the attitude of the players and the supporters, it was a special night.

"I had confidence we would win, even with five minutes remaining because the team was playing well, we were passing the ball and playing with confidence. Even at the end we knew we could score."

Benitez knew that he was under intense pressure going into the game, because defeat would have left his side with nothing to play for with still three months of the season remaining.

There is a growing feeling within senior levels of the club that he has taken the side as far as he can.

But again last night the canny Spaniard showed that he can never be underestimated when it comes to the Champions' League, as an Inter Milan side who proudly stand 11 points clear at the top of Serie A found to their cost.

And afterwards, the Liverpool boss insisted it wasn't just a victory for him, but the whole club.

"We needed to win as a team but we wanted to progress as a team, for me as a manager I am pleased when we win, so it is a time to be happy," he said.

"I know people have said they had to win for me, but the players have to win for this amazing club. It is a big club, a massive club, and they played with passion.

"I was delighted with their performance, and now I want them to go and finish the job. But we have to be careful, because we know Inter are a very good side, who will still be very dangerous."

Inter were furious with Materazzi's dismissal with manager Roberto Mancini complaining: "We had one or two doubts about the red card, you can say."

But Gerrard summed up the night when he said: "We kept going right to the end, and we deserved our reward because we had the spirit to keep playing."

Steven Gerrard Has Transformed Our Season, Says Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuyt has revealed how Steven Gerrard's inspiration transformed Liverpool's season.

The Anfield striker yesterday offered an insight into the drive and ambition of his skipper, even amid the euphoria of a magical night against Inter Milan.

It was Kuyt who provided the goal five minutes from time that finally broke the deadlock in a tense Champions League tie. At that moment, the Dutch striker and his team-mates were thinking only of protecting their lead to take to the San Siro.

But Gerrard had other ideas, and it was his goal that gave Liverpool a vital two-goal buffer. "It's funny because when I scored, we celebrated, and I said to Stevie maybe now we just need to keep the ball and get a clean sheet," he explained.

"We were happy to get a lead, but he turned to me and said 'no, we want another goal, we can get another' and he was right.

"We got another, and that is really important because it made it a great result, and we are obviously really happy with the way it turned out.

"We lost three days ago to Barnsley when everyone expected us to beat them easily. Then you saw a totally different team, but with many of the same players. I suppose that's the magic of football." Jamie Carragher also heaped praise on Gerrard.

He said: "In the Champions League all the top teams come and you see some of the names they've got. But Stevie's the one who does the decisive thing in the end, who provides the big moments," he said.

"That is what makes him one of the best players in the world."

LiverpooL 2 - 0 Inter Milan

Liverpool rediscovered their pride and gave themselves a wonderful chance of saving their Champions League lives with a 2-0 win over Inter Milan.

Hounded and hammered from all quarters after three months of disappointing form, Liverpool grabbed two goals in the final five minutes in the first leg of their last 16 tie against the Italian giants.

They inflicted only the second defeat of the season on the Serie A leaders, with late goals from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard.

Inter fought and defended magnificently for an hour after defender Marco Materazzi was sent off on his return to Merseyside, having been an Everton player eight years ago.

It was the slice of fortune Liverpool desperately needed. They dominated from then on and produced a victory that will also lift the intense pressure on boss Rafael Benitez.

Liverpool will go to the San Siro on March 11 with genuine hope that they can reach their 12th European Cup quarter-finals.

Inter, 11 points clear at the top of Serie A, were at their strongest. A side with seven South Americans and only one Italian, former Everton centre-back Materazzi.

Liverpool made five changes from the one humbled by Barnsley in the FA Cup on Saturday, with Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Jose Reina Arvalo Arbeloa and Mascherano - returning.

But they faced a massive task, the Italian club had lost only one game in 33 all season to Fenerbahce in the Champions League group stages.

Three defeats in their previous 45 away games in all competitions told its own story.

England boss Fabio Capello was here to witness a side of true class, on current form one of the best in the world, while Liverpool were coming off the back of their worst defeat of the campaign.

The Kop were at full throttle as the teams appeared, full of faith if not total belief that Liverpool could match the Nerazzurri, who are heading for their third title on the trot.

But the use of Gerrard in support of Torres, with Kuyt wide, gave the Anfield skipper the platform for a memorable performances.

Liverpool could easily have had a penalty inside two minutes when Jamie Carragher - playing his 99th European game - saw a shot hit the outstretched hand of Brazilian Maicon.

Carragher berated Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere all the way back up field. Cristian Chivu was booked for tripping Gerrard in full flow, then Materazzi was cautioned for a foul on Torres, while Ryan Babel and Sami Hyypia both had efforts saved.

Liverpool produced as good an opening spell as they have managed in recent times -measured, thoughtful and with Mascherano outstanding.

The angled running of Torres was stretching Inter at the back, and Materazzi's next foul on the Spaniard on 30 minutes produced a second yellow followed by a red, to the horror of the big centre-back and delight of the Kop who reminded him of his Everton past all the way down the tunnel.

Contact, though, was minimal if there was any at all and the Italian's reputation for trouble may have influenced the decision.

Chivu dropped into central defence and Inter set themselves for a siege.

But there were few chances. One Gerrard surge and cross was deflected away from Kuyt, who saw another effort held by Julio Cesar.

In the second period Inter had the Kop at their backs, baying for a breakthrough.

Then a familiar figure emerged from the Inter bench, former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira came on for striker Julio Cruz, to reinforce the barricades.

But twice in two minutes Liverpool should have scored.

First Torres burst onto a rebound off Kuyt and broke clear, only to see his shot touched wide by Cesar. Then Hyypia rose to head over a Kuyt cross.

On 60 minutes Vieira clearly handed a Gerrard cross inside the box, but neither referee nor assistant saw it. To Liverpool's horror all they got was a corner.

Torres drove another effort inches wide before Peter Crouch was ushered into the fray in place of Lucas in the 64th minute. Seven minutes later it was Jermaine Pennant's turn in place of Ryan Babel.

The game, though was on a knife edge. Inter were looking for the break-out as Liverpool intensified their pressure. Crouch fired wide from 10 yards, the chances coming and the time ticking away.

In the 75th minute the excellent Ivan Cordoba was carried off after falling awkwardly, Nicolas Burdisso coming on. Crouch had another effort blocked and Steve Finnan blasted the rebound high into the Kop.

But then the breakthrough came. With six minutes left Pennant fired a cross back into a packed box and it flew on to Kuyt on the left, who saw his right-foot shot flick off Maicon and high past Cesar and Anfield erupted.

And a minute from time Gerrard took possession on the far right corner of the box and fired the second home in off the far post. Cue more delirium, and the cloud lifted from Anfield.

Gerrard: Job Only Half Done

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was left delighted with his team’s performance against Inter Milan, but warned that the job was only half completed ahead of the second leg at the San Siro.

Inter had defender Marco Materazzi sent off after just half an hour and defended resolutely until two late strikes from Kuyt and Gerrard sealed a 2-0 win.

“It was a big night and a big win, but it means nothing if we don’t finish the job in the second leg, but I’m confident we’ll do it.”

The sending off of Materazzi was central in the game, but Gerrard felt the referee had little choice. “I’m not surprised no. They were two bookable offences so he deserved to go” Gerrard said.

“The win is for Rafa, the fans, for everybody connected with the club. It’s a big win for everyone.”

Striker Dirk Kuyt believed that the Red’s patience was the key to victory.

“We kept patient and it is a big win for us. But we still have a second game to go” the Dutchman added.

Kuyt Glad Gerrard Went For The Jugular

Dirk Kuyt is glad his captain Steven Gerrard ignored his advice to protect what they had last night after Liverpool broke the deadlock late on against Inter Milan. Gerrard wanted to double the Reds' advantage - and did so with a possibly decisive second goal at Anfield.

Dirk Kuyt scored the crucial breakthrough goal for Liverpool in the 85th minute of their Champions League home leg against ten-man Internazionale on Tuesday - then tried to persuade Steven Gerrard not to press forward in search of a second goal but to protect their lead.

The Dutchman revealed his cautious approach to uefa.com after the match, which Liverpool won 2-0 because Gerrard ignored his advice and added a last-gasp second goal.

The Serie A leaders had kept Liverpool at bay with ten-man for almost an hour after Marco Materazzi had been red-carded, and Kuyt urged skipper Gerrard to protect their slender lead.

"It was funny because I said to Stevie that maybe we have to keep hold of the ball and keep the clean sheet but he said we want to get another goal and he was right," said Kuyt. "He got a great goal and 2-0 is a great result, though we have one game to go in Milan, so it will be a tough night again."

Victory against the team hailed as the best in Europe this season was the perfect tonic for Liverpool after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship (level two) Barnsley at the weekend. "I think that's the magic of football," said Kuyt. "You lose three days ago against Barnsley, where everybody is expecting you to beat them easily, and then tonight you see a whole different team but with a lot of the same players.

"I'm happy to score but the most important thing is that we won and beat Inter in the first match, though we still have a game to play so we'll keep focused," he added.

"We didn't play well in the last few matches but we know how we have to play in the big games, especially in the Champions League, and we used that. All the players worked really hard as a team and we had confidence in ourselves because we know we have a lot of quality. I think we showed that tonight."

Intriguingly, the only time Liverpool have ever lost a two-goal first-leg lead in European competition was, by coincidence, against Inter in the 1964/65 European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-final, a tie that was shrouded in controversy after dubious refereeing decisions in the second leg appeared to favour Inter.

However, when Kuyt, 27, was told of Inter's 4-3 aggregate win more than 40 years ago, he replied: "We just want to keep looking forward and not too much in the past."

Champions League Preview: Liverpool vs. Inter Milan

An intriguing tie pits a team who dominate domestically but fail in Europe against one whose proud European tradition remains their only hope in an otherwise terrible season.

The knock-out stages of the Champions League are important for all involved. But few clubs are under quite so much pressure to succeed as Liverpool. Mid-way through February, Europe already represents the Reds’ sole hope of lifting silverware this season.

The collapse in the Premier League was disappointing, albeit greeted by most with a feeling of resignation (it seems it always happens nowadays).

But Saturday’s defeat to Championship side Barnsley brought Liverpool’s season crashing to a new low. The South Yorkshire minnows snatched the result of the weekend as they earned a famous 2-1 win at Anfield with a last-gasp strike. Reds supporters were stunned.

True, there have been unwelcome distractions off the pitch, and Benítez did field a weakened team at the weekend. But there can be no excuses: Even Liverpool reserves (but let’s not forget the likes of Carragher, Finnan, Babel and Alonso were playing) should be capable of pummelling a side 29 places below them in the league ladder.

Liverpool are a team whose confidence has hit rock bottom. There appears little stability, fans are not convinced that the manager knows his strongest side and players are failing to perform. Goals in particular appear hard to come by – the Reds squandered a hatful of chances on Saturday and paid the price. There is no time for Liverpool to wallow in self-pity: a similar showing against Italian giants Inter will render their season a total failure.

Rafa Benítez has shown his ability to outwit Europe’s great sides, the Kop has proved it can will the red men onto victory. Two Champions League finals in three years is a phenomenal achievement, with the likes of Juventus, AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea (twice) all falling foul of the Anfield side.

By contrast, the Reds’ exit against Benfica at this stage of the 2006 competition is often forgotten amongst the hype of Athens and particularly Istanbul. Inter are unquestionably giants, not outsiders, and Liverpool must therefore hope that their reputation for overcoming the heavyweights in Europe yet again rings true.

If domestic failure creates pressure in Europe, one would imagine that Inter enter this Champions League encounter in a state of relaxation. Not so. Roberto Mancini’s side have made Serie A anything but a competition in recent times, this year already enjoying an eleven point lead over second-placed Roma. Saturday’s easy 2-0 win over Livorno means that, 23 games into the season, the Nerazzurri remain unbeaten and have only dropped ten points.

Naturally, they possess both the best attack (48 goals) and the best defence (13 conceded). But history reveals that Inter have traditionally failed to convert domestic success into European honours. They did claim back-to-back European Cup wins – but that was 43 years ago! Not since 1972 have they even reached the final of Europe’s premier club competition.

In these days of multiple Champions League entries from one country, it has been tough viewing for Inter fans as their side have bowed out in the final 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals while domestic rivals have fought it out for Europe’s grand prize. Last season’s bitter defeat to Valencia and Milan’s triumph in Athens were a case in point.

Kings of Italy the Nerazzurri unquestionably are, but can they finally end their European drought? They certainly have the players. Inter possess a phenomenal strength in depth that perhaps only one or two other sides in Europe can match (and none can better).

Mancini has shown rotation can work – players come into the side, know their roles, assimilate quickly and deliver when it matters. In Zlatan Ibrahimović they have one of the best strikers in the world, while the defence is always solid and the midfield both compact without the ball and threatening in possession.

Knock-out football of this calibre does not allow for mistakes, but if Inter can finally replicate their domestic form in Europe there is little reason why they cannot eliminate Liverpool and proceed to win this year’s Champions League.

FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Liverpool - Barnsley 1 - 2 16/02/2008 FA CUP
Chelsea - Liverpool 0 - 0 10/02/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Sunderland 3 - 0 02/02/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham - Liverpool 1 - 0 30/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Havant & Waterlooville 5 - 2 26/01/2008 FA CUP
Liverpool - Aston Villa 2 - 2 21/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE

Inter

Inter Milan - Livorno 2 - 0 16/02/2008 SERIE A
Catania - Inter Milan 0 - 2 10/02/2008 SERIE A
Inter Milan - Empoli 1 - 0 03/02/2008 SERIE A
Juventus - Inter Milan 2 - 3 30/01/2008 COPPA ITALIA
Udinese - Inter Milan 0 - 0 27/01/2008 SERIE A
Inter Milan - Juventus 2 - 2 23/01/2008 COPPA ITALIA

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres were all rested at the weekend and will all start on Tuesday. Rafa Benítez will certainly name what he believes is his very strongest side for this encounter, and only has Daniel Agger (foot) and Andriy Voronin (ankle) out injured.

Likely XI (4-4-2): Reina - Finnan, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa - Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Babel - Crouch, Torres

Inter

Luis Jimenez is injured and will miss out, while Inter's doctors must check on the progress of Luis Figo. Roberto Mancini rested some players during the Livorno game, so the likes of Materazzi, Ibrahimovic and Cruz should all earn recalls. The coach is unsure what to do about Patrick Vieira, however, and might opt to leave him on the bench as he's lacking match practice. Cesar is suspended.

Likely XI: (4-4-2): Júlio Cesar - Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Maxwell - Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic, Chivu - Ibrahimovic, Cruz

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool – Fernando Torres

Torres has been at Anfield for less than a season, but he’s already one of the key men in Rafa Benítez’ side. It’s simple: when the striker doesn’t play, Liverpool lack cutting edge up front. The Reds smashed in more goals than any other team in the Champions League group stages, but have struggled to find the net of late. Torres’ pace and accuracy in front of goal are vital if Liverpool are to eradicate the recent profligacy which has cost them dear.

Inter – Julio Cruz

Former Inter manager Roy Hodgson says he’s the key and so do we. The striker has developed from a bit-part player at the Giuseppe Meazza to one of the Nerazzurri’s star men. Cruz has scored 15 goals in 19 games this season and if Liverpool’s defence show the same indecisions as against Barnsley they can expect the veteran Argentine to pounce.

Mascherano Primed For Inter Battle

Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano is ready to lay himself on the line to ensure Liverpool beat Internazionale in the Champions League.

Italian champions and runaway Serie A leaders Inter take on Liverpool tonight in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash at Anfield. They could be forgiven for feeling this is an ideal time to tackle the Reds, who appear to be in turmoil both on and off the pitch.

Defeat by lowly Barnsley in the FA Cup seemed to sum up a campaign that has so far fallen woefully short of pre-season expectations, and can no only redeemed by success in Europe.

But there is no hint of defeatism, self-pity or even apprehension in the attitude of holding midfielder Javier Mascherano. He is expected to start in the centre of the Liverpool midfield tonight against Inter, and so come up against fellow countrymen Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Julio Cruz.

They are his colleagues in the Albiceleste, but Mascherano says friendships will be put to one side as soon as battle commences at Anfield, where Liverpool will be looking to bounce back by securing a first-leg lead to take to the San Siro.

"I would die to try to get my team a win in this game. They are my team-mates for my country but my job is to stop Inter Milan's players," Mascherano told the Daily Mirror.

"When I play for Liverpool, I don't have any friends in the opposing side.

"When I go out on to the pitch, when I get my mind into playing mode, I forget about everything except winning. I will die to try and get my team a win.

"If that means getting myself between the ball and people who are friends off the pitch, then that is just the way it is,” he stressed.

Jose, Martin And Frank Lead Early List For Liverpool Ppot

It almost seems that the question on Rafa Benitez has changed from whether he'll be sacked to when.

Which leaves us with some pretty important questions that need to be answered soon. Will he last the season? Who will replace him?

What is the purpose of life?

I added the last one, but there might be some Liverpool fans saying that very same thing when they hear that Jose Mourinho is on a short list of potential Rafa replacements on Merseyside.

It's all speculation at this point, but the names being floated out there are a who's who of managers that might be available.

We know Mourinho is.

We expect that Frank Rikjaard will be after Barcelona's season.

And would Martin O'Neill really leave Aston Villa for Anfield?

Those are the three names that are most often popping up out there.

I think all three could succeed at Liverpool under the right ownership and I know a few Liverpool fans that would celebrate mightily to have O'Neill come in.

But it's too early to make an educated guess, isn't it?

Oh hell. Who do you think should/will replace Rafa at Liverpool? If he's sacked of course...

Alan Hansen's Column from BBC UK

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will not necessarily have to win the Champions League to keep his job but he has to ensure his side triumph in their last-16 tie with Inter Milan to alleviate the pressure he is under.

He might not get sacked even if his squad is beaten by Inter but, if they are knocked out of Europe, then that puts pressure on everybody - the owners, the manager and the players.

What you would have then is Liverpool supporters turning up en masse until the end of the season with their team having nothing to play for - and that is a frightening prospect.

Their Premier League title hopes are gone, the FA Cup went on Saturday and the Champions League is all Liverpool have to play for.

You could argue that they are still chasing fourth place in the league but that is not what Liverpool should be about. This season has been a major disappointment.

What went wrong for them against Barnsley on Saturday can be traced back to the start of the campaign.

In September they walloped Derby 6-0 then went to Portsmouth for their next game, made five changes and drew 0-0.

The Liverpool philosophy has always been to hammer home when you have an impetus and Liverpool did not do that. They have suffered ever since.

There has obviously been too much rotation in selection and there is a lot of caution when they play at Anfield too.

They have lost confidence at home in the last six to eight weeks, even though the crowd have been great, and things have gone a bit flat.

Against Barnsley, Liverpool went 1-0 up but they did not roll over the top of them and they have not looked like doing that against anyone since the start of the year.

Benitez is a cautious manager. That is an observation not a criticism because most foreign bosses, including England coach Fabio Capello, have that element about them.

But Liverpool fans have always been used to seeing their team hem in the opposition and batter them. Now the style is more cautious and I think they have suffered because of it.

I still do not think the team has gone backwards though. They are better now than they were last year and it does not matter if they finish more points behind the eventual champions this year.

While there has been an improvement, however, it has not been dramatic enough to see them challenge for the title.

It used to be that they could rely only on Steven Gerrard to deliver, now you have got Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

But they still do not have enough players of real quality to back up those two.

It has always been the case that to win championships you need to be able to replace quality with quality. Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea can all do it but Liverpool cannot. It is as simple as that.

How long can Benitez survive without delivering the title? Well, a lot of managers survive without doing that but he has to show he is getting closer.

He has got that great track record in the Champions League but obviously it is the Premier League that everyone wants to win and I think the fans have stuck with him because they can see he is going through purgatory trying to put things right.

It has still come to the stage, though, where something - a performance or a result - is needed to lift everyone and that could come on Tuesday in the first leg of their encounter with Inter.

It is a tough tie - Inter are running away with Serie A in Italy - but I would not be surprised if Liverpool reach the quarter-finals.

When they became champions of Europe in 2005, that team was well below the level you would expect from Liverpool and they beat Juventus and Chelsea to get to the final. In 2007, they beat Barcelona and Chelsea.

The atmosphere at Anfield on those four occasions exceeded anything that was there when I played and, whatever people might say, you just do not get anything like it at other grounds.

That will raise the players to a different level. We have already seen it happen and one thing is for sure, it will be one heck of a game.

Facing Inter Is The Kind Of Match I Came To Liverpool For, Says Torres

Fernando Torres is relishing the chance to ride to Rafa Benitez's rescue tonight in their massive Champions League clash with Inter Milan and admits: "This is why I signed for Liverpool."

With pressure mounting on compatriot and manager Benitez following Saturday's embarrassing FA Cup exit to Barnsley, Torres is ready to shoulder the goalscoring responsibility.

Despite his reputation as one of the world's top strikers, the Spaniard has never played in the last 16 of the Champions League and is up for the task.

Torres said: "This is a very big game for the fans and for us. I came here to play in this type of game, in the Champions League and in other competitions.

"Inter Milan are a very good team but I think we can beat them. Why not?

"That is another reason why I came to Liverpool, to work with the manager, and I have learned a lot from him since I joined.

"Reaching two Champions League Finals in three years is an incredible achievement.

"It takes something special to do that and you don't do that unless you have a very good manager.

He added: "We have an opportunity to get an important win. The supporters, the players, the staff at Liverpool are like a big family.

"It is a different mentality to most other clubs and we need to play like a team tonight.

"Big teams win the important games and we are a big team. After losing to Marseille at home we knew we had to beat Porto at home and then win in Marseille and in both games we played really, really well.

"We scored four goals against Porto and four against Marseille. This is what Liverpool can do and we need to do it again in a big game against Inter Milan.

"We were third in our group, we needed to win our games and we did. I also saw Liverpool beat Barcelona in the Champions League last season. That was also a big game, Liverpool played very, very well and got a great result. To win 2-1 away at Barcelona is a big result.

"They were the best team in the world when it comes to ability because they have so many great players but Liverpool played like a team and if you play like a team you can win every game against every team. If we play like a team tonight then we can win, for sure.

"I think this tie is a bit different though because the first game is at Anfield in front of our own fans.

"But it is important to get a similar result because of our position in the league and because we are out of both cups."

Torres Awaits Famous European Night

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is relishing the chance to play against Inter and hopes to help the Reds claim a sixth European title.

Liverpool face Internazionale on Tuesday night knowing that a defeat would probably bring an end to their chances of success in any competition.

The Reds are reeling from Saturday's shock 2-1 home defeat to Barnsley in the FA Cup, but Fernando Torres, who missed that game, is anxious to move on.

The Spanish striker should be passed fit to feature in Tuesday's Anfield clash having shaken off a hamstring injury and knows the game has huge importance for Liverpool football club.

"The game against Inter will be one of those special Champions League nights at Anfield that I have seen countless times before on the television," he explained.

“I have always dreamt of playing in one of these games and would certainly not like to miss it. The Champions League is an important competition. Everyone at Liverpool really wants to win a sixth European Cup and to continue the club’s proud tradition."

Torres has been at the club for less than a year but has already recognised what a special place Anfield is to play at. "(It's) like no other," he said. "The dressing rooms are from 70 years ago - there are none like them still around in Spain. The stadium also has a lot of history and tradition.

"The corridor which leads out on to the pitch is so narrow that the two teams can barely squeeze through. And to hear ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ as you step out into the stadium is unbelievable. You walk out on to the pitch fully charged and with enough energy to run all day. I think the atmosphere at Anfield can give us a real advantage against Inter this week.”

John Aldridge: Loss Of Paco Ayesteran To Blame For Liverpool Woe

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge claims the famous Anfield club has “imploded” recently and believes the departure of Rafael Benitez’s assistant this season is a major factor in the team’s plight.

Benitez’s side crashed out of the FA Cup courtesy of Barnsley’s injury-time winner at Anfield yesterday.

With their Barclays Premier League campaign now confined to a race for fourth place, which leaves them with just the Champions League to contest, with the first leg of their last-16 tie with Inter Milan taking place this week.

And highly-decorated former striker Aldridge admits ongoing confusion off the field is adding to problems on the pitch.

“It’s not going too well on and off the field at the moment,” he told Setanta Sports News. “The club’s imploded over the past couple of months and it can only get better.

“A lot of people are getting the wrong idea of what’s happening. You can look back to when Paco Ayesteran went a couple of months ago, Rafa’s right-hand man, I think that’s got a massive bearing on it.

“He’s holding the fort on his own without a right-hand man. He’s working very hard on his own and under very difficult circumstances and I think he needs a bit of help right now.”

As for matters upstairs, Aldridge added: “There’s so much speculation going on off the park regarding the American owners (George Gillett and Tom Hicks) that we don’t know who’s going to be the chairman next month.

“If anyone did want Rafa to go then who could sack him at the moment? He’s between parties, the old chairman David Moores hasn’t got a say in the matter. There’s no board at the moment, no-one knows where the club’s going at the present time.”

Inter Boss Mancini Still Wary Of The Reds

Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini says he will not be reading too much into Liverpool's poor form ahead of their Champions League clash at Anfield on Tuesday night.

The Reds crashed out of the FA Cup on Saturday with a shock home defeat to Barnsley, to pile the pressure on Rafa Benitez ahead of the visit of the runaway Serie A leaders.

Former Leicester man Mancini insists he will not be fooled into thinking Liverpool will be an easy opponent for his side and he is wary of the threat posed by last season's losing finalists.

"I am not fooled by Liverpool's form in the Premier League. Or in cup competitions, where they rest their top players," Mancini told The Sun.

"I saw them held to a draw at home to Aston Villa and no, they were not at their best. But that is not the Liverpool I expect to see when we play at Anfield.

"I expect to see the Liverpool of old, the Liverpool that have contested two of the last three Champions League finals, the Liverpool that gave us the greatest final ever in Istanbul against AC Milan. After which, every Inter supporter went out a bought a Liverpool shirt.

"Everyone knows Liverpool, with their history and tradition, are a different team in the Champions League. European nights lift this famous club.

"It is in their blood. They respond - and their supporters respond with them.

"That is why we will have to produce an incredible performance at Anfield. We may have a fantastic record in Serie A but that doesn't mean anything when you come to big European nights.

Mancini admitted that Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are Liverpool's two most important players and that he must stop the pair if his side are to progress.

"Liverpool have great players, yet I still think the most important thing is the team," added Mancini.

"They have a very English centre but other players with European vision. In fact, an Italian vision.

"I don't like to talk about individual players. It sends the wrong message to your own team. But I will admit this. Gerrard and Carragher are the most important players in the Liverpool team - more so even than Fernando Torres.

"They represent everything great about Liverpool. They are the soul of the team."

Rafa Benitez Refuses To Talk About His Liverpool FC Future

Stunned Rafael Benitez refused to contemplate his Anfield future in the aftermath of Liverpool’s sensational FA Cup exit on Saturday.

The loss leaves the Champions League as Liverpool’s only route to silverware this season, with Inter Milan visiting Anfield in the first knockout round first leg tomorrow night.

And when asked whether winning the European Cup for a second time in four seasons would be the only way to save his job, the beleaguered Benitez responded: “I only think about winning the next game.

“I don’t know too many managers who win the Champions League. We need to improve the squad, it’s a young squad with good players, keep working, keep improving the squad if we can.

“Everybody wants to win here, so the way to win is to keep working. If you say against Barnsley that the players weren’t working hard, I would say that’s not true. The team was trying to win.

“We are out of the Cup, that is the situation and we need to think about the Champions League. If we can create the chances that we’ve created against Barnsley I’m sure we’ll score goals.

“We must try to keep going, keep preparing the team for the next games, we have the Champions League and after the Premier League, we must keep working harder and keep creating chances.”

Liverpool created 31 chances but scored just once through Dirk Kuyt’s opener. It allowed Stephen Foster to equalise on 12 minutes after the interval before Brian Howard struck Barnsley’s winner in injury time.

And Benitez said: “In the last month we had a lot of chances in every game and couldn’t score the second goal and kill the game, and now in the last minute we lost.

“To the players you must send the same message: keep working hard, keep creating chances and we will have more confidence if we can score the first and second goal.

“We had chances to score the second goal, very, very clear chances and the keeper made great saves. It means that we need to score the goals and improve our confidence.”

Asked whether his confidence-hit players were afraid to shoot, Benitez said: “Some players maybe, but you could see our players were trying till the end.

“So I had confidence at 80 minutes, I could see the team attacking and attacking and attacking, so I had confidence we could win.

“If you don’t try you will not change anything. You must try to win games, sometimes you cannot. You can’t say ‘oh, because I couldn’t win this game I will stop training and working’, so we need to prepare for the game against Inter Milan and against Middlesbrough, so that’s football.”

Benitez Faces Summer Appraisal

Rafael Benitez's position as Liverpool manager will be reviewed at the end of the season, according to reports.

Liverpool suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Barnsley in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday, leaving the European Cup as the only competition the club could realistically hope to win this season.

Benitez clashed with club owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks over transfer policy last year and Hicks later admitted he held talks with the former Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann about taking over if Benitez left suddenly.

But they cleared the air at a meeting in December and Benitez was able to sign Martin Skrtel during the transfer window.

After losing to Barnsley, Benitez said: "We cannot change this result, but we must look now at the Champions League and try to finish our chances next time.

"We must think of Europe, we still have fourth place in the league to go for, that is what is coming next."

Liverpool face Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League second round tie at Anfield on Tuesday and they meet Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Saturday.

They are currently three points behind local rivals Everton, who are fourth in the Premier League, but Liverpool have a game in hand.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said: "I wouldn't call this just a bad spell. It's been a lot longer than that. We realise we are not playing well enough. It's not a matter of putting your finger on one reason.

"It's simply because we have not been good enough. We've still got the Champions League to play for and we have to fight for that fourth place, so every league game is going to be important. We have to make sure we are in the Champions League next season."

Benitez: 'I Am Really, Really Disappointed'

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez had little but cliches to offer after his side were stunned by a brave Barnsley side.

Benitez is under yet more pressure after his team were knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley.

Championship side Barnsley caused the biggest upset in this season's competition so far as they came from behind to grab a late 2-1 win at Anfield.

"It is very difficult [to describe his feelings] you must be frustrated today," Benitez told Sky Sports News.

"In terms of work ethic we cannot say anything to the players. They worked really hard, we had a lot of chances, but again it was the same situation as in other games.

"We are controlling games but we cannot take our chances and finish games.

"So today was the same. The keeper was a very good signing, he was man-of-the-match with some great saves.

"I am really, really disappointed.

"We had chances, their keeper made fantastic saves, they score in the last minute and sometimes that is football."

Liverpool now have just one more trophy to compete for, and must overcome red hot Inter to stay in the hunt.

"All we can do now is prepare for the next game, we know it is an important game so we must put our heads up and be ready to work really hard for this game," concluded Benitez.

Smith Blast For Benitez

Legendary Liverpool defender Tommy Smith has launched a stinging criticism of Reds boss Rafael Benitez after his side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley.

Brian Howard's injury-time winner at Anfield dumped Liverpool out of yet another competition, leaving them with just the Champions League - in which they face Inter Milan this week - to contest.

And Smith, who captained Liverpool to the 1971 league and UEFA Cup double, has hit out at Benitez's controversial rotation policy and decision to rest several key players for yesterday's visit of the Coca-Cola Championship side.

Smith told BBC Radio Five Live: "In the programme for Saturday's game Benitez said cup competitions are always dangerous if you think you can beat teams easily. So why on earth didn't he put a strong team out against Barnsley?"

Smith admitted Reds fans may finally start to run out of patience with the Spanish boss.

"I should imagine so. At the end of the day Bill Shankly used to tell us you're only as good as your last result. How on earth does Benitez think he's going to win stuff if he puts a second-class team out?

"Because Liverpool's squad is not as strong as I think he thought at the beginning of the season. I don't think he's even got a strong first XI.

"How could he leave (Jose) Reina, (Steven) Gerrard and (Javier) Mascherano out?"

Smith admitted the last-16 European tie with Inter is now do-or-die.

"I'm afraid so," he said. "He keeps going on about winning four cups and all that but at the end of the day it's not even entertaining at Anfield at the moment. The crowd keep it going but they booed everybody at the end of the game and quite rightly.

"The first person you put on the team-sheet is Gerrard. How on earth could he sit on the bench for 75 minutes and watch that...then he (Benitez) talks about chances. Well, they've gone. You can't score after the game finishes."