Reds skipper Gerrard puts Rafa in pole position for San Siro

Liverpool were unrecognisable from the side humiliated by Barnsley in the FA Cup on Saturday as they pounded 10-man Inter Milan and left them on their knees with late strikes from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard.

Unbeaten Serie A leaders Inter defended stoutly after losing former Everton centre back Marco Materazzi to a second yellow card in the 30th minute but were finally undone as Kuyt fired home a deflected volley and Gerrard drilled a low shot in off a post in the 90th minute.

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Even the cautious Benitez hinted there may be no way back for Inter after their first defeat since September, saying: "It was important not to concede, and to score two goals like that, so late on, made it perfect.

"We must be careful in the return leg at San Siro, because they are a very good side, but we have given ourselves a good chance. It will be difficult for them to pull it round. 'I am really pleased, because the attitude of the players was so good and we were pressing them and passing it round so well.

"I don't know about it easing any pressure on me. It was just important for us to win as a team, because we all want to progress as far as we can. 'Are the players playing for me? They are playing for the club and showing passion for the club and that is the most important thing."

Gerrard was just as reticent about a relationship between manager and dressing room that continues to be more businesslike than cordial.

Asked whether he was happy to have eased the pressure on his beleaguered boss, the Liverpool captain replied: "I am pleased for Rafa but really that was for the team, the fans, people upstairs, everyone connected with the club. It was a big win for us all and it wouldn't be fair to single out any individual.

"It was a great performance and huge win, but we know there is still a job to be done. It will mean nothing if we don't finish it off in three weeks, so we are not getting carried away. We are all pleased with a clean sheet and two-goal lead, but we need no reminding that we are up against a top side who cannot be underestimated.

"I wasn't surprised to see Materazzi go. It was two bookable offences, so he deserved to go. They got everyone behind the ball after that and looked to be playing for 0-0, so we had to stay patient. We did that and got our reward when they tired near the end. We deserved it."

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Inter boss Roberto Mancini refused to concede his side had blown their quarter-final prospects, saying: "I don't accept it was a killer goal by Gerrard. There are still 90 minutes left, at least, and others have come back from this situation. We aim to do the same. It is not beyond our reach."

The goals ensured the tie ended in the same raucous style as it started as an Anfield full house proved Benitez isn't alone in granting the Champions League special status.

Eighteen years have passed since Liverpool were last able to call themselves champions of England and there is little doubt about which prize Anfield patrons covet most.

Give them a glamorous European night, though, and nothing else matters.

In much the same way as against Barcelona, Chelsea and Juventus in recent campaigns, there was a sustained level of noise and sense of occasion that lifted this first knock-out round opening encounter above the humdrum that has blighted so many low-key Anfield games this season.

Disconcertingly for Benitez, though, he had to wait for a 'Rafa, Rafael' chant from the Kop. The best part of 20 minutes, in fact, as they first went through chorus after chorus of 'You'll Never Walk Alone.'