Liverpool look to spoil Inter's centenary celebrations
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
MILAN, Mar 11 (AFP): While Inter Milan have been celebrating their centenary in the build up to Tuesday's crucial Champions League last 16, second leg clash against Liverpool at the San Siro, the visitors from Merseyside will have their own little 100 to celebrate.
Jamie Carragher will become the first Liverpool player to make 100 appearances in European football, should he take his usual place at the heart of the defence to help the English side defend a 2-0 lead from the first leg three weeks ago at Anfield.
While on paper, Inter look the better side -- riding high at the top of the Italian league while Liverpool face a fight with city rivals Everton just to finish fourth in England's Premier League and qualify for next season's premier European competition -- Carragher believes European football is tailor made for his team.
"It's a totally different game and we're more suited to it than the Premier League, which is more about power and pace -- and we don't have huge pace," he told the Liverpool club website.
"What we do have is a lot of good thinkers, players who know the game. Because it's a bit slower in Europe, it suits us.
"If we get through against Inter, nobody will want us in the draw because of our record. There's a bit of mystique about us almost because people see us not doing so well in the league and yet doing well in Europe."
Jamie Carragher will become the first Liverpool player to make 100 appearances in European football, should he take his usual place at the heart of the defence to help the English side defend a 2-0 lead from the first leg three weeks ago at Anfield.
While on paper, Inter look the better side -- riding high at the top of the Italian league while Liverpool face a fight with city rivals Everton just to finish fourth in England's Premier League and qualify for next season's premier European competition -- Carragher believes European football is tailor made for his team.
"It's a totally different game and we're more suited to it than the Premier League, which is more about power and pace -- and we don't have huge pace," he told the Liverpool club website.
"What we do have is a lot of good thinkers, players who know the game. Because it's a bit slower in Europe, it suits us.
"If we get through against Inter, nobody will want us in the draw because of our record. There's a bit of mystique about us almost because people see us not doing so well in the league and yet doing well in Europe."