Benítez backing Liverpool to oust Inter

Liverpool FC and FC Internazionale Milano may have crossed paths only once before in European competition, but both are familiar with clubs from their opponents' countries as they prepare to renew acquaintances after a wait of more than 40 years.

Benítez confidence
The teams met in the European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals of 1964/65, Liverpool triumphing 3-1 in the first leg at Anfield only for Internazionale to overturn that deficit with a 3-0 victory in the return, going on to lift the trophy for the second – and so far last – time. Liverpool have won four of their six home games against Italian opposition, including their last two, but have tasted success just once in six visits to Italian teams. Rafael Benítez nevertheless believes it is the opposition who have more cause for concern, saying: "Inter will be worried for sure. They know we are a good team and I remember talking about [FC] Barcelona being a tough draw last year. In two months' time you don't know what could happen, so we will see if we can go into the tie playing a little bit better."

'Very, very difficult'
Despite his confidence, Benítez has endured disappointment at the hands of Inter before, his Valencia CF side being eliminated in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 2001/02 and losing to the same rivals at the same stage of the UEFA Champions League a year later. "Everyone was expecting a difficult draw and Inter are top of the table in Italy, so it will be very, very difficult," the Liverpool manager added. "I know them from playing against them with Valencia. They have good players and experience in Europe so it will be a very, very difficult job, but we were expecting that. If you want to progress in the competition you have to beat the top sides and Inter are one of them. Hopefully we will meet another one in the next round."

'Two great sides'
Inter, meanwhile, may have won on only three of their nine trips to England, yet two of those victories came in their last two visits – and in impressive fashion, 4-1 at Newcastle United FC and 3-0 at Arsenal FC. And if their last home encounter ended in a 5-1 reverse at the hands of Arsenal, coach Roberto Mancini is nonetheless convinced that stronger opposition brings the best out of his players, saying: "It was a good draw. There are no weak teams at this level, and history teaches us that when you face a team that you consider weak you can easily stumble. It's better to take a strong one, and if you want to win the competition you have to be able to beat any team. It will be a match between two great sides."