Champions League News

Liverpool secured a 2-0 win over a 10-man Inter Milan team in the first leg of their last-16 clash in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday.

It was a must-win game for the Reds in terms giving a boost to their fans after the shock loss to Barnsley in the FA Cup at the weekend and Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard scored late goals to help Rafa Benitez’s side keep their hopes of advancing in Europe alive.

It was a bustling start for the Reds, who went on to dictate the terms for the entire game.

With Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano starting, the Reds were energetic right from the word go and took the game to Inter, who hardly came up with a worthwhile attacking move of their own.

Inter were reduced to 10 men at the half-hour mark when referee Frank De Bleeckere sent off Italy defender Marco Materazzi after two bookable offences, both for fouls on Torres, who was a constant threat to the visitors citadel.

However, there weren't many clear-cut chances and the home side’s only attempt on target in the first-half saw Sami Hyypia’s header off a corner by skipper Gerrard being palmed over the cross bar by Inter keeper Julio Cesar.

The Italians defended well, particularly Ivan Cordoba, who thwarted the attempts from Kuyt early in the first half. Gerrard and Ryan Babel saw their long range shots miss the target, before the Reds skipper came close in the closing stages of the opening period as his cross went across the face of the goal only for Maicon to come to the rescue of Inter.

Inter’s best chance came early in the second half when there was a hesitation in Reds defence but Esteban Cambiasso failed to keep his powerful shot on target. At the other end, Cristian Chivu cut out a cross in the six-yard box from Steve Finnan.

Inter boss Roberto Mancini took forward Julio Cruz off in the 55th minute and sent on midfielder Patrick Vieira.

Julio Cesar made an important save in the 58th minute, full stretch on the ground to deflect away an angular carpet-drive from Torres from the edge of the penalty area. Minute later, Hyypia headed over the cross bar from close range.

Soon after, there were calls from the Reds for a penalty as Gerrard’s intended cross hit Vieira’s hands but that was not deemed deliberate handball.

Spain ace, Torres, who was out of the last two games due to hamstring problem, missed the target by a narrow margin in the 64th minute. And Benitez promptly introduced Peter Crouch taking off midfielder Lucas Leiva as the hosts pressed forward in search of a goal.

In the 73rd minute, France star Vieira tried his luck from long range, but his shot was wide of the Reds goal.

Crouch showed that he was handful for the rivals as he got his shot through even with three rival players converging on him, but the attempt was not on target. After a collision amongst Inter players, Cordoba, who had a fine match, was stretchered out with an injury in the 76th minute.

Crouch’s shot was blocked by Chivu in the 79th minute as the Reds had no shortage of chances.

Kuyt finally managed to get the Reds in front in the 85th minute as substitute Jermaine Pennant’s cross made its way past the host of bodies in the area to the Reds striker on the left of the penalty area. The Dutch international then volleyed home with the bounce after a slight deflection off Maicon, taking the ball over Julio Cesar, who was on his knees expecting a low shot.

The Reds were 2-0 up and set to take the advantage into the second leg after England midfielder Gerrard scored from 20 yards out from the right side with an angular shot that struck the inside of the far post before the ball found the back of the nets just before the start of the stoppage time.

Teams:

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Aurelio, Carragher, Hyypia, Mascherano, Lucas (Crouch 64), Gerrard, Babel (Pennant 72), Torres, Kuyt.

Substitutes not used: Itandje, Riise, Benayoun, Arbeloa, Alonso.

Inter: Julio Cesar, Cordoba (Burdisso 76), Zanetti, Stankovic, Maxwell, Ibrahimovic, Cruz (Vieira 55), Maicon, Cambiasso, Materazzi, Chivu.

Substitutes not used: Crespo, Figo, Toldo, Suazo, Maniche.