Fernando Torres struck yet again for Liverpool to send them into the Champions League quarter-finals after a 1-0 win at Inter Milan. A stunned San Siro had seen their side reduced to 10 men in the second-half when Nicolas Burdisso was dismissed after a harsh second yellow card.
Marco Materazzi's red card changed the course of the first-leg at Anfield - and another Inter dismissal did the same here as the hosts fell to a 3-0 aggregate defeat. Thirteen minutes later Torres finished the tie with his 26th goal of the season, scoring from the edge of the box from Fabio Aurelio's pass.
Jamie Carragher played his 100th European match - a new Liverpool record - at right-back to allow Sami Hyypia to return in the centre alongside Martin Skrtel. Lucas Leiva played in central midfield in place of Xabi Alonso, who stayed on Merseyside to be with his pregnant girlfriend who had gone into labour, with Javier Mascherano also back after a groin problem and the pair turned in an outstanding defensive display.
For a while the gratitude Inter fans feel towards Liverpool shone through this vibrant, passionate occasion as a huge banner was hung above the 5,000 visiting contingent saying "Whatever happens, Istanbul 2005, thank you Liverpool'', in reference to that famous victory over hated rivals AC.
But once the banner was taken down the real battle began in an electric atmosphere amid deafening noise. A good win for Liverpool!
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