Anfield crowd change their tune

He is clearly not alone. A quick look round Anfield was enough to confirm that roughly the same number had turned up as against Barnsley in the FA Cup fifth round, yet the evidence of the ears suggested there must have been at least twice as many crammed inside.

Those who sneer at Anfield's reputation for producing 'special' European nights have doubtless based their scepticism on a visit to any number of Barclays Premier League games. Or a Cup tie with the likes of Barnsley, for that matter.

Liverpool followers may pride themselves on sticking resolutely by their team, but there was no need to glance at the distinctive blue and black stripes of Inter Milan to appreciate this was no ordinary, run-of-the-mill domestic fixture.

Mobile phones may as well have been left at home. Even if a connection could be made, on over-congested networks, there was little hope of hearing the voice at the other end, such was the din in the build-up to kick-off and for much of what followed.

In the same way as against Barcelona, Chelsea and Juventus in recent seasons, there was a sustained level of noise and sense of occasion that lifted this meeting way above the humdrum that has blighted so many Anfield games this season.

If the volume was as ear-splitting as ever, though, there was the merest change of emphasis in its tone. Almost imperceptible, but there nonetheless. For a good five minutes prior to the teams' emergence, and for at least as long afterwards, chorus after chorus of You'll Never Walk Alone rang round the ground.

Not Rafa-Rafael, note, as on other recent nights when the presence of the world's media has been seen as an ideal opportunity to demonstrate unswerving loyalty for under-pressure boss Benitez, but the time-honoured anthem that represents feeling for the club as a whole, rather than any individual.

Indeed, the best part of 20 minutes had passed before Benitez was able to acknowledge the chant that has always underlined the bond between manager and the Kop. Evidence, perhaps, that for all the pro-Benitez, anti-American demonstrations of late, public backing for the 46-year old Spaniard may be on the wane, in the wake of continuing consternation over unpredictable team selections and even more erratic results.

As ever, Benitez only had eyes for events unfolding on the pitch, and he even came up with a novel twist on the foreign trait of waving an imaginary card at the referee.

A second yellow was already on its way out for Marco Materazzi when Benitez appeared on the touchline, twiddling the index and middle fingers of his right hand. Perhaps he should have been more concerned about a possible red card from American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.