Unbeaten Inter ready to go on the attack

Even more worryingly for Liverpool, and manager Rafa Benitez, is that their dominance has been built on an away record that has to be the envy of all of Europe. In 45 games on their travels in all competitions they have been beaten only three times.

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Benitez's straight-faced assertion that it is about to become four at Anfield on Tuesday night may portray him as the supreme optimist. But there may just be grounds for hope, at least, on closer inspection of one-time Leicester City caretaker-boss Roberto Mancini's impressive impact since succeeding Alberto Zaccheroni at San Siro in July 2004.

While Benitez's side have struggled to reproduce their Champions League expertise on the domestic front, Inter have thrived in Serie A but floundered on the continent. Victims of Valencia at this same first knockout round last season, they faltered at the quarter-final stage in Mancini's two previous campaigns.

It is an imbalance the 43-year-old Mancini is particularly keen to correct and he intends doing it in some style, according to his skipper Javier Zanetti.

Not only has Mancini dragged Inter out of the shadows of illustrious neighbours AC Milan, he appears to have solved the puzzle of how to extract the best out of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is in the form of his life after scoring five goals in as many Champions League appearances this season and 14 from 20 Serie A games.

Italy's finest may have been renowned for defensive durability down the years, but Mancini is doing his utmost to change the popular perception after seeing Inter average just over two goals a game.

Asked whether there might be cause for adopting a cautious approach to try to quell an intense Anfield atmosphere, Zanetti shook his head and said: 'Hernan Crespo has warned things may be a little warm for us, but we intend to play our normal game.

'When you have players like Zlatan in your side, that is the only way to play. He has had a huge impact and is capable of extraordinary things.'

Mancini was at a loss to explain the lack of success in Europe but adamant the one shortcoming in his managerial record is about to be remedied.

'Our domestic form has been excellent, but the Champions League has proved more difficult,' he said. 'I know how prestigious the Champions League is and how much it would mean to everyone to win it. That is our main objective.'

Mancini could not resist a smile at the way two of his country's elder statesmen have been lured to these shores, following Fabio Capello and Giovanni Trapattoni's appointments.

'Would I fancy working over here?' he mused. 'Perhaps if Wales have a vacancy one day.'