Jamie Carragher just loves pitting himself against the best in the world.
And the Liverpool defender is certainly going to get that chance on Tuesday when Liverpool play the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash with Italian giants Inter Milan.
Carragher, a hero of Istanbul, knows what it takes to win the European Cup, and he accepts reaching another final will be a huge task for the Anfield men.
He said: "There's no point hiding from the fact that we are not good enough to win the league. There is no other explanation for the gap between us and the leaders."
So it has to be the European Cup or the FA Cup if Liverpool are to rescue their season.
Carragher added: "The two games with Inter will be massive.
"I am a player that always tries to give 100% every time I play in the team, but these type of games always seem to bring out the best in people, including me.
"I have been watching Inter when I can since we knew we would be playing them. And they are an excellent team.
"And we will have to play a lot better than we have been, and be at our very best, to get through."
Italian Champions Inter are top of Serie A again this term without losing in the league, and they are hot favourites to make Liverpool's increasingly-depressing season even worse by putting them out of Europe.
Two finals in three years is now little more than history for under-pressure boss Rafael Benitez, who knows qualification for the Champions League next season is now the minimum requirement.
They are second favourites against Inter, while they are in a massive battle with Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City for fourth spot in the Barclays Premier League.
Of course, Liverpool could ensure qualification for Europe's top competition next season winning the trophy for the sixth time.
Unlikely, maybe, but that is how they did it back in 2005 against AC Milan.
Liverpool finished fifth that season and only got special dispensation to defend their crown after much debate in UEFA's corridors of power.
If they won it again, and finished outside England's top four, a rule is now in place to ensure the holders will not miss out.
Carragher, though, is only thinking in terms of the two games with Inter, the second leg coming at the San Siro on March 11.
He said: "This is what I love, playing against the best players about and that is what we have got to look forward to against Inter.
"They look like running away with their title and are keen to win this trophy after watching AC Milan do that against us last season.
"It will be a big test for us, and we will have to up our game a level or two to get through.
"But the league has gone for us now and this is one of the last two trophies we can win this term, so bring it on. Making a good start in the tie at home, though, is crucial."
For many older Liverpool fans, the tie will bring back memories of the club's controversial semi-final defeat to Inter back in 1965, the last time the clubs met.
The tie was surrounded with claims of match-fixing, and 10 years later there was still an investigation going on, but nothing was ever proved.
Liverpool went to Milan 33 years ago having won the first leg 3-1, but lost in the San Siro to a controversial free-kick, signalled as indirect by referee Jose Maria Ortiz de Mendibil, but put into the net by Mario Corso.
Inter also scored when the ball was virtually kicked out of Tommy Lawrence's hands as he cleared, similar to the famous George Best trick against Gordon Banks in Belfast. But Joaquin Peiro's effort was allowed to stand.
Ian St John then scored a goal wrongly ruled as offside, before Giacinto Facchetti grabbed the decisive goal.
Liverpool were incensed; Bill Shankly's men had won the FA Cup for the first time a few days earlier but the scars from that San Siro night are still raw for those who witnessed it.
Tommy Smith, then 20, remembers that clash well.
He said: "To be robbed of a place in the European Cup final by a referee like that made me angry.
"We learned a lot about playing in Europe from that one game, we were very new to it all at the time. If we win this tie, I will certainly be celebrating."
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