Two late goals from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool a 2-0 Champions League last 32 first leg win over ten-man Internazionale at Anfield.

Liverpool deserved the win after dominating from the kick-off, although it seemed for the best part of the match that Rafa Benitez's men would fail to make their advantage pay despite their opponents being a man light for over an hour.

But the introduction of substitutes Peter Crouch and Jermaine Pennant gave Liverpool the impetus required to stretch an Inter defence lacking in height, handing under-pressure Benitez a much-needed fillip following the shock home defeat to Barnsley in the FA Cup.

The sending-off of Marco Materazzi on the half hour was harsh on the Italy centre back as the first of his two yellow cards - given by Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere for a supposed foul on Fernando Torres - was dubious the say the least.

The second card, shown a quarter of an hour later for a tug on the shirt of the same man, was met with utter disbelief from Materazzi, who - exploits in and for Italy aside - is renowned on Merseyside for ill-discipline, having been sent off four times in one season while playing for Everton just under a decade ago.

Ironically it was until this point that Liverpool were at their most exhilarating. Jamie Carragher spooned a shot wide when found following a third-minute corner, while Christian Chivu was fortunate to see only yellow when he pulled Kuyt down on the edge of the box a minute later.

Colombian defender Ivan Cordoba - who was stretchered off after a nasty landing late on - saved Inter soon afterwards when he put Kuyt's low drive behind for a corner, which Hyppia should have turned into a goal with a free header comfortably tipped over by Julio Cesar.

Following the dismissal Liverpool seemed to retreat into themselves, an inventive clearance by Maicon sparing Inter when Gerrard drove low to an unmarked Kuyt at the far post deep into first half injury time.

Liverpool's main problem going forward was due to the conservatism of a midfield featuring Lucas Leiva and Javier Mascherano, with Gerrard on the right and unable to curb his natural instinct to cut inside, meaning the width required to stretch a side down to ten men had to come from the overlapping Steve Finnan.

Julio Cesar then made a superb save from Gerrard, while from the following corner Hyppia again headed over when he really should have scored.

Patrick Vieira was lucky not to have been spotted quite clearly handling when Gerrard flicked the ball over him in the area, the home side already having cried for a penalty after a Gerrard shot bounced up and appeared to strike Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the arm, but De Bleeckere waved their protests away.

Benitez had seen enough and brought on gangly hit man Crouch - who arguably should have been used from the start or at least from the break with Cordoba standing at under 5"8 tall.

The England striker immediately caused Inter problems with his height, and the existence of an aerial target allowed Benitez to introduce wide man Pennant and - crucially - move Gerrard back inside.

The injury to Cordoba - who was hurt landing following a poor defensive header that Crouch latched onto to fire inches wide - caused further organisational problems to an Inter defence already reorganised after Materazzi's early exit.

Crouch went close again, bringing a high ball down past two Inter defenders but seeing his finish blocked by Chivu, and he and Pennant combined for the goal that eased Mersey nerves with five minutes left on the clock.

Pennat dug out a good ball aimed at Crouch, who took the visiting defence out of the equation for the ball to land at the feet of an unmarked Kuyt at the far post, his low drive deflecting off Maicon and past the helpless Julio Cesar.

The floodgates threatened to open, Benitez asking the fourth official for more additional time so his side could put the two-legged time beyond Inter as Liverpool over-ran their guests.

And in the final minute of normal time captain Gerrard got the second, shaping to cross and driving low from the edge of the area to take the Nerazzuri by surprise and beat Julio Cesar at the far post.

It was runaway Serie A leaders Inter's first defeat in five months and leaves the reigning Italian champions with a tough task at the Giuseppe Meazza on March 5th.

Reda Maher / Eurosport