LFC vs Internazionale Review

Defying all odds time and time again, Liverpool have beaten Iternazionale, or more commonly known as Inter Milan 2-0 at home. Liverpool made it the hundredth European win at Anfield with a sweet volley from Dirk Kuijt and a smashing thump from outside the box by skipper Steven Gerrard, making it his 50th goal at Anfield for Liverpool and breaking a Liverpool record by scoring for 5 European games in a row. Liverpool, having 69% of ball possession, dominated the game . As is the tradition on a European night at Anfield, the fans set the tone prior to kick-off with yet another powerful rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, and the Reds responded in kind with a high octane start. After just three minutes, a Steven Gerrard corner found its way all the way through to the unmarked Jamie Carragher at the far post, but despite seeing his effort blocked by the arm of Ivan Cordoba, the referee turned down the appeals for a penalty. They quite simply had no answer to El Nino and it was of little surprise when defender Marco Materazzi was sent-off for a second bookable offence after just half an hour, for hauling Torres to the ground when he had a clear sight of goal.Everything seemed to be going according to plan for the home side except for one important statistic - it was still goalless. in the 85th minute, Steven Gerrard tried a cross in from outside the box but a defender headered the ball out straight to the feet of Steve Finnan. After being closed down very tightly, Finnan hooked the ball to the running
Jermaine Pennant who whipped in a superb cross which just missed the head of Peter Crouch. Dirk got the ball, rolled it forward and drilled it so hard toward the grass that the ball deflected off the leg of Maicon, and bounced right over the head of Julio Cesar, who was kneeling down. In the 90th minute, Steven Gerrard started his own goal when he picked out Jermaine Pennant with a through pass. Pennant dribbled past one defender but was closed down too quickly to cross the ball. Pennant passed to the open Gerrard who faked a cross and hit the ball forward.At the angle where the line going vertically and the one going horizontally met, Gerrard thumped the ball with so much power that it bounced twice, beat the outstretched arm of Cesar and went into the side netting of the goal.

Starting Lineups:
Liverpool : Reina, Aurelio, Hyypia, Carragher, Finnan, Babel, Mascherano, Leiva, Gerrard (c), Torres, Kuyt. Subs - Riise, Arbeloa, Crouch, Alonso, Pennant, Itandje, Benayoun

Internazionale:Cesar, Chivu, Cordoba, Materazzi, , Cambiasso, Stankovic, Zanetti (captain), Ibrahimovic, Cruz. Subs - Burdisso, Toldo, Suazo, Figo, Vieira, Crespo

Referee: Frank De Bleekere (Bel)

Attendance: 41,999

Man of the Match: Javier Mascherano