New Delhi: Liverpool became the fourth English side to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with victory against Inter Milan on Tuesday.
Fernando Torres scored brilliantly on the turn after 64 minutes to give Liverpool a comfortable 1-0 win at San Siro Stadium in Milan. Liverpool registered a 3-0 aggregate victory and join Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in the last eight.
On the other hand just one team, AS Roma, will represent Italy in the Champions League quarters.
It is the first time any country has dominated the Champions League in such a fashion.
For Inter the ghost of the first leg, when their centre back Marco Materazzi was sent off, were had defender Nicolas Burdisso sent off for a second booking after a clumsy 50th-minute tackle on Lucas Leiva.
And Liverpool took full advantage of their one-man advantage when Torres found the back of the net for his fourth goal of the campaign just 13 minutes after a pass from Fabio Aurelio.
The Serie A leaders had several chances but their strike force of Argentine Julio Cruz and Zlatan Ibrahimovic could not get their radar right.
"Up to the sending off it was a difficult game. I think we controlled the game and deserved to go through to the last eight," Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard told Sky television.
"I think if you look at our form over the season we are a force in Europe. We're lucky to have Fernando. He only needs one chance, as he showed tonight."
Premier League leaders Arsenal beat holders AC Milan 2-0 at the San Siro last week to win 2-0 on aggregate and although Liverpool were not as stylish they completed the job just as effectively in a fast-paced encounter.
An early long-range effort from Cruz was well saved by Pepe Reina before the Argentine shot wide after being beautifully played in by Ibrahimovic.
Blasted over
Swede Ibrahimovic also blasted over two free kicks and missed an excellent opportunity after an error by centre back Martin Skrtel.
Five-times European champions Liverpool were not content to sit back and made several forays forward.
Aurelio's long ball sent Ryan Babel clean through in the first period but home keeper Julio Cesar raced out of his box to clear.
Esteban Cambiasso, one of several players to lose their footing, slipped in the area and let in Torres but the in-form Spaniard shot at the keeper.
He made no mistake midway through the second half though, sending Liverpool fans wild with delight.
The Italian champions hoped to repeat their 1965 European Cup semi-final comeback when they lost 3-1 at Liverpool before winning 3-0 at home in the second leg on their way to lifting the trophy.
But Roberto Mancini's men have flattered to deceive again in the Champions League, having been dumped out by Valencia in last season's first knockout round.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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