Good Days in Liverpool: The Reds Do It Again

The Mist over Anfield settled last night after what seemed the last straw for Liverpool hopefuls, who had began to feel like they were about to "Walk Alone."

Rafa Benitez, a manager who I seriously admire and follow due to my conviction that he is one of the best tacticians in the game, was begining to lose grip of the fact that high expectations require equally high results, especially in a case where a lot of money was dolled out for the acquisition of some of the brightest and most expensive talent from across the globe.

He dug deep, very deep, to get his hands on Spain's best attacking material Fernando Torres, overpaid for dutchman Ryan Babel, scooped on the brazilian Lucas Leiva and in January plucked up Skctel, and in kamikaze fashion got Itanje the young french goalkeeper in raids that cost more than 60 million Pounds (GB).

On the night, even the fact that ANFIELD was the venue of one of the biggest games of the Round on Europes big night, did not seem to give the Reds any sort of chance against Europes most consistent clubside in the present season. Inter Milan had before the game only once failed to go undefeated in all competitions since september. That defeat did come in the Champions league, away to Fenebache in Turkey. Since that opening night loss, Inter has gone from strenght to strenght, maintaining the leadership position in Serie A, bullying their way through the Italian Cup, and staying atop in the group stages of the league of champions.

Rafa showed intent with his starting lineup that displayed attacking intent and a bench that seemed to tell of a Plan B, in the presence of the workable pair of Peter Crouch and Jermain Pennant as a remedy if the ground passing that was expected with the inclusion of Lucas Leiva and Ryan Babel. That though, didn't conceal the need to fight it out and dig in deep with strenght against the italians as displayed by the industry only Dirk Kuyt can bring. He stuck with the disappointing center-back pairing of Jaime Carragher and Sammie Hyypia and replaced the ineffective Riise with Fabio Aurelio at left-back.

The most effective man in a red shirt this season Fernando Torres, started up-front albeit alone after coming back from an injury during the last international round with Spain. Macherano was given the job of protecting the back four and captain marvelous, Gerald was as usual allowed to roam particularly from the right side of midfield ablely supported by Steve Finnan.

Roberto Mancini was cautious with his selection, but he included Julio Cruz in place of last weekends two-goal hero David Suazo who would definitely not be happy not to participate on the night. An also unhappy Hernan Crespo was on the bench, joined by the fit again duo of Patrick Viera and Luis Figo. What would have worried any concerned supporter was the absence of a midfield match-maker and very good passer of the ball to feed the deadly attack line that had Zlatan ibrahimovic in the shadows, a job handed down to Dejan Stankovic and one not carried out at all on the night.

It was quick and deserved thrust and mistakes on opposite sides of the pitch. It rightly went in the favour of the home team, all that was missing was the directness at goal that would have produced a hint of a goal. Materazzi was penalised and dished a yellow card in no time and when the red was flashed after the second yellow came though in questionable fashion, it would be a matter of if Liverpool would create enough. They didn't until the last 25 minutes of the game and thanks again to the precision of Dirk Kuyt under little pressure from Maicon in the wake of Ivan Cordoba's substitution due to an injury, did the first goal come on exactly the 85th minute. A second off the boot of Gerald ended the contest and would surely give the under-pressure Benitez a reason to heave a huge sigh of relief.

The questions are, would liverpool hold out at the San Siro? Would Inter regroup in the absence of Materazzi to keep a clean sheet and score three? Or would Liverpool prove the Champions League voodoo by beating the Italian Champions at their backyard?