Late goals from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool a 2-0 home win over 10-man Inter Milan in Tuesday's Champions League last-16 tie.The Reds rediscovered their pride and gave themselves a wonderful chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Hounded and hammered from all quarters after three months of disappointing form, Liverpool grabbed two goals in the final five minutes in the first leg against Inter at Anfield. They travel to the San Siro on Tuesday March 11.

The Reds inflicted only the second defeat of the season on the Serie A leaders, who last lost a game against Fenerbahce in Turkey back in September.

Inter fought and defended magnificently for an hour after defender Marco Materazzi was sent off on his return to Merseyside, having been an Everton player eight years ago.

It was the slice of fortune Liverpool, a side who have struggled to beat far lesser teams than Inter of late, desperately needed. They dominated from then on and produced a victory that will also lift the intense pressure on boss Rafael Benitez.

Liverpool will go to Italy with genuine hope that they can reach their 12th European Cup quarter-final.

Inter, 11 points clear at the top of Serie A, were at their strongest. A side with seven South Americans and only one Italian, centre-back Materazzi.

Liverpool made five changes from the one humbled by Barnsley in the FA Cup on Saturday, with all the big names - Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Jose Reina and Javier Mascherano - returning.

But they faced a massive task, the Italian club had lost only one game in 33 all season to Fenerbahce in the Champions League group stages.

Three defeats in their previous 45 away games in all competitions told its own story.

England boss Fabio Capello was here to witness a side of true class, on current form one of the best in the world, while Liverpool were coming off the back of their worst defeat of the campaign.

The Kop were at full throttle as the teams appeared, full of faith if not total belief that Liverpool could match the Nerazzurri, who are heading for their third title on the trot.

But the use of Gerrard in support of Torres, with Kuyt wide, gave the Anfield skipper the platform for one of those memorable performances.

And Liverpool could easily have had a penalty inside two minutes when Jamie Carragher - playing his 99th European game - saw a shot hit the outstretched hand of Brazilian Maicon.

Carragher berated Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere all the way back up field. Cristian Chivu was booked for tripping Gerrard in full flow, then Materazzi was cautioned for a foul on Torres, while Ryan Babel and Sami Hyypia both had efforts saved.

Liverpool produced as good an opening spell as they have managed in ages -measured, thoughtful and with Mascherano outstanding.

The angled running of Torres was stretching Inter at the back, and Materazzi's next foul on the Spaniard on 30 minutes produced a second yellow followed by a red, to the horror of the big centre-back and delight of the Kop who reminded him of his Everton past all the way down the tunnel.

Contact, though, was minimal if there was any at all and the Italian's reputation for trouble maybe influenced the decision.

Now Liverpool had their golden chance, could they overcome 10 men, even of this quality? Chivu dropped into central defence and Inter set themselves for a siege.

But there were few chances. One Gerrard surge and cross was deflected away from Kuyt, who saw another effort held by Julio Cesar.

In the second period Inter had the Kop at their backs, baying for a breakthrough.

Then a familiar figure emerged from the Inter

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