Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti is focused on beating Livorno this weekend ahead of their European tie with Liverpool.Internazionale entertain Livorno on Saturday and captain Javier Zanetti is doing his best to keep the players' minds off next week's Champions League tie at Liverpool.

Last weekend's 2-0 victory over Catania saw unbeaten Inter extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points after 22 games.

Another win on Saturday afternoon could see Inter take a giant stride towards defending their league crown with second-placed Roma facing a tricky away trip to Juventus later in the day.

And Inter's players insist they will be focused on collecting three points this weekend despite the looming presence of their European date with the Reds at Anfield.

Zanetti said: "We are not thinking about Liverpool, we will begin to do so on Sunday.

"The best way to prepare for the Champions League tie will be to win on Saturday."

Midfielder Esteban Cambiasso added: "With the quality seen in Serie A, you cannot allow yourself to ease up in one competition in order to do better in an other one.

"We must always give our best in each game and remain concentrated on our aims."

Inter coach Roberto Mancini will be without suspended midfielder Patrick Vieira and may opt to rest Luis Jimenez, who is struggling with a muscular problem sustained against Catania.

Dejan Stankovic is expected to line up in midfield having missed last weekend's encounter through injury.

Livorno return to the San Siro just three days after holding AC Milan to a 1-1 draw in their rescheduled midweek match.

That result saw the Amaranto climb four points clear of the drop zone, and coach Giancarlo Camolese was full of praise for his team after the match.

"I accepted this job with much enthusiasm," he said. "I am grateful to the club as I have had the fortune to find a group who believe in their work.

"Our objective is to avoid the drop and we can go and play on any pitch.

"I am happy because we played with personality and it wasn't easy considering we had lost our previous two games."

It was not all good news for the Livorno, however, with captain Francesco Tavano, top scorer with 10 goals, picking up a muscle strain against the Rossoneri that makes him a doubt for this weekend.

"We hope Tavano's injury is nothing serious," said Camolese. "But we will have to wait and see what the extent of the injury will be."

Tavano's likely absence will make Camolese's task all the more difficult, with his team set to take on the best strike force and the strongest defensive line in the competition.

However, Livorno will be boosted by the return of experienced defender David Balleri from suspension.

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