Liverpool complete the clean sweep

SOCCER/Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 1:FOR 43 years Liverpool have cursed officialdom for denying them glory against Internazionale, and no doubt the Italians will return the compliment now that the 1965 European Cup semi-final has been avenged. It would be the ultimate diversionary tactic, of course, and one that should not air-brush from history the latest scalp claimed by Rafael Benitez in the Champions League and the magnificence of Fernando Torres.

Liverpool completed the clean sweep of four English clubs in the quarter-finals with the neatest of strikes from Torres. Although Inter gave their all until being reduced to 10 men for the second successive tie, they had neither the guile nor precision to turn this contest on its axis.

They certainly had no equal to Liverpool's record signing, and his 26th goal of an incredible debut season has given Anfield genuine confidence for a third final appearance in four seasons.

Whistling was incessant from all sides as the San Siro fans, in common with the carabinieri and stewards outside the stadium, provided a hostile reception for the 4,200 - the official number at least - who had travelled in support of Liverpool.

Given the task in hand, the Champions League pedigree of the two sides and Internazionale's form since they succumbed with 10 men at Anfield three weeks ago, Roberto Mancini's side required any advantage they could muster.

Inter, their domestic supremacy again failing to translate on to a European stage, had won only once in four league games since the first-leg defeat.

This performance, however, validated the excuse that the Italian champions had been focusing mind and body on this second encounter with Benitez's side. Revenge and one final chance to save reputations made for a potent mix.

The flow of an absorbing contest was frequently disrupted by the Norwegian referee, Tom Henning Ovrebo, and yet the quality that had lain dormant in Mancini's team at Anfield nevertheless came to the fore, whereas Liverpool were again relentless in their challenges on a defining Champions League night.

Key to the transformation was the leadership provided by Inter's captain Javier Zanetti and an overdue display of intelligence and fight by Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Sweden striker made no secret of his disgust at being overlooked in the European Footballer of the Year awards last season when he would have been better advised to concentrate on his inconsistency on the field of play.

Certainly Liverpool had seen no reason to fear the much-heralded forward before this game; in two outings against them for Juventus and the first leg for Inter he was languid to the point of anonymity, but last night he justified the plaudits as his invention, touch and movement carried Inter's greatest hope of a breakthrough.

Behind him, Zanetti's penetrating runs through midfield forced Liverpool on to the back foot following an encouraging start by the visitors, only to confront an immovable object in the form of goalkeeper Jose Reina.

The Spain international made a commanding stop to divert a low drive from Julio Cruz from his bottom corner, and there was an inspired reaction save from the Argentinian shortly before the interval when, despite being caught wrong-footed as the striker backheeled a byline cross from Maicon towards goal, he arched back to foil the attempt with one hand.

Cruz had also squandered a glorious chance when sent clear by Ibrahimovic, shooting wide of the far post when Dejan Stankovic was waiting unmarked for a pull-back.

As the minutes and the opportunities passed, the Liverpool section began to take heart.

Liverpool's attacking threat was sporadic but sufficient to unnerve Inter. Torres drew a near-post save from Julio Cesar after an untimely slip by Esteban Cambiasso gave the Spaniard sight of goal, and the goalkeeper had to be quick from his line to prevent Ryan Babel capitalising on a raking pass from Fabio Aurelio. The Dutch winger was booked for encroaching in the 11th minute and his night could have ended abruptly when he escaped a second yellow for handball.

It would have been harsh in the extreme to dismiss Babel, but not so Nicolas Burdisso, the defender summonsed to replace the suspended Marco Materazzi and who repeated his mistakes to diminish Inter again. Having collected a deserved booking in the first half for a pull on Dirk Kuyt, the Argentinian foolishly leaped late into Lucas to earn an inevitable red five minutes after the restart.

The tie was settled when Aurelio intercepted on the left and found Torres lurking on the edge of the Inter area. With a swift touch, turn and drive into the bottom corner, Benitez's team had overcome a formidable hurdle.

INTER MILAN: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Burdisso, Rivas, Chivu, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic (Jimenez 84), Vieira (Pele 76), Ibrahimovic (Suazo 80), Cruz. Subs not used: Toldo, Figo, Crespo, Maniche. Sent off: Burdisso (50). Booked: Burdisso, Rivas, Stankovic, Chivu.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Aurelio, Babel (Benayoun 61), Mascherano (Pennant 87), Gerrard, Lucas, Kuyt (Riise 81), Torres. Subs not used: Itandje, Voronin, Crouch, Arbeloa. Booked: Babel, Gerrard, Aurelio, Benayoun.

Referee: Tom Ovrebo (Norway).