Benitez to go on attack at Inter

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insists his side cannot afford to sit back and defend a 2-0 lead in their Champions League second leg tie at Inter Milan.

The Reds will be aiming to become the fourth English side in the last eight with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United already through.

"It is impossible for us to defend for a long time against such a great team," said the Spaniard.

"We will be looking to score, to hit on the break."

Benitez goes into the game without midfielder Xabi Alonso, who has been left out to attend the birth of his first child.

The Reds boss is believed to be frustrated at Alonso's decision, but Benitez will be counting on the hot goalscoring form of striker Fernando Torres against the Serie A leaders at the San Siro.

Torres has scored seven goals in his last four games, including two-hat-tricks, as he has taken his tally for the season to 25 goals in 34 games.

"I believe that Fernando Torres is the ideal player for this, if we score one then we will surely be through," added Benitez, whose side have won their last five games.

"We are playing well and we have great confidence.

"When we played Inter in the first game we had just been beaten by Barnsley in the FA Cup. Now we face them after five successive victories."

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who has been deployed behind the attack and in front of the the Reds midfield, has formed a promising partnership with Torres in recent games.

"We will be looking to hit them on the counter-attack, and Torres plays that game better than anyone," said Gerrard.

"But we will have to play as well as we have done anywhere this season."

Inter will be without Marco Materazzi after his sending-off in the first-leg and Gerrard believes his replacement will face a torrid task trying to contain Torres. "The lad who comes into their side for Materazzi will not be looking forward to his 90 minutes against Fernando," he said.

The growing partnership between Gerrard and Torres has seen the Spaniard describe his skipper as "one of the best players in the world".

And Gerrard is sure that Torres will be Liverpool's match-winner in the San Siro.

"He's brilliant, fantastic. I wouldn't swap him for any other striker anywhere," said the England midfielder.

"He has been massive for us and gives us so many different options up front. He's banging them in and always looks a threat every time he plays.

"You can play him on his own or with a partner and he just adapts perfectly.

"When you look at the impact he has made in just seven months here, it means that no-one now can make excuses about needing time to settle.

"He is just a kid really in football terms, and he is going to get better and better.

"That is a frightening thought, but not for us. It's frightening for the defences he is going to be coming up against."

Inter boss Roberto Mancini believes a packed San Siro will boost their chances of overcoming the 2-0 first leg deficit.

He said: "I believe a full stadium can make the difference. If the match is going well, the crowd could be decisive."

Mancini also hinted he may play five across the midfield despite the need for goals.

"With many unavailable, it could be a possibility," he said. "To overhaul a 2-0 scoreline we will have to be perfect from every point of view.

"We must play the perfect match, trying not to give Liverpool space. I am not pessimistic, I believe it is possible to go through."