There is no point trying to explain it. There is no reason to it, no logical process, no rational terms by which it can be convincingly evaluated. Liverpool, the team who could not beat Barnsley on Saturday, last night overcame Inter Milan, the Italian champions and the team who last season won Serie A by a record 22 points.

That they did it with two goals in the last five minutes is roughly par for the course, and there will be those who say that Liverpool were helped by two slices of luck with the sending-off of Marco Materazzi, the central defender, after 30 minutes and an injury to his outstanding partner Iván Córdoba — without doubt the man of the match — after 75. Yet it would be wrong to dismiss Liverpool’s achievement or their ambition on the night. Even when the teams were numerically matched, only one demonstrated the gusto needed to effect victory.

From kick-off to final whistle, Liverpool were the team making a serious effort to win the game. Inter attempted instead a very stereotypical triumph: resisting the barrage to cling on for that badge of honour in the Italian game, the bitterly fought goalless draw away from home. That they failed is to be applauded, although in the San Siro in three weeks’ time, expect the roles to be comprehensively reversed.

The dismissal of Materazzi appeared particularly to vex the visiting team, but considering the limits on Inter’s aspirations, it did not have as much impact as one might believe. The withdrawal of Córdoba, however, was critical. The little Colombia player, whose frame flies in the face of the modern fashion for central defenders, had been immense until that moment; as inspirational for his team as Jamie Carragher has been for Liverpool on equivalent European nights. Had he remained on the pitch, it is possible Liverpool could still be playing now without scoring and it was no surprise that having kept a clean sheet against intense Liverpool pressure for 75 minutes — 45 with only ten men — Inter lasted only 11 once Córdoba was removed from the fray. His misfortune in turning a knee when landing awkwardly while making a simple header on the run, had a bigger impact on the game than any other event, including the introduction of Jermaine Pennant, the Liverpool substitute who had a hand in both goals.

Without Córdoba, Inter lapsed into disarray and Liverpool’s first goal was scored against a team who resembled a boxer stumbling into the twelfth round of a title fight, disorientated and stretched beyond endurance. Sensing weakness, Liverpool upped the tempo farther, particularly with Pennant getting at Inter down the right flank.

It was his cross that made the goal after Dirk Kuyt had first over-hit a pass from the left, Steve Finnan keeping the ball in and threading it back to Pennant. His cross somehow found Kuyt unmarked at the far post, his shot leaving Júlio César, the goalkeeper, powerless. The supporters who painted graffiti outside Anfield before the game imploring Rafael Benítez to go and to take Kuyt, among several underachieving players, with him, must have slunk away pretty sheepishly at this moment.

There was more. Stunned by such an un-Italian capitulation, Inter compounded the error by conceding a second goal that may just have settled the tie. Pennant fed Gerrard whose low shot from 20 yards eluded Júlio César and settled in the far corner.

There is still a little left in this tie, but not much, particularly if Córdoba cannot recover in time with Materazzi now suspended. Nobody would bet against Fernando Torres scoring against a second-string defence in Milan. He was immense again last night.

Roberto Mancini, the Inter coach, felt hard done by after being reduced to ten men with an hour remaining, but his criticism is unsubstantiated. An early return of two yellow cards for Materazzi and one for Cristian Chivu, the left back, was the rightful harvest of an approach that determined to remove Gerrard and Torres from the conflict by fair means or foul.

Inter set about their business with almost clichéd efficiency, snuffing out the danger the moment it arose, with scant regard for the niceties. The bigger shock was the swift action of Frank de Bleeckere, the Belgian referee, who had clearly been down this road before and was determined not to allow Inter a couple of free hits, before taking action.

So when Kuyt flicked the ball on to Gerrard in the fourth minute and Chivu was caught by his run, he resorted to an artful trip and De Bleeckere duly produced a card. Inter’s reaction suggested this was not part of the plan; usually, weak referees let at least one of those pass by with a verbal reprimand before resorting to harsher disciplinary measures. It was a sign of things to come.

In the eleventh minute, Materazzi, clearly detailed to match the physical threat of Torres went too far and was booked. In the 30th minute, he lost his man and his self-control again, and was sent off. Torres got by him and that left Inter momentarily vulnerable, so he pulled the striker back: not dramatically, but with just enough force to make sure Liverpool could not take advantage of the situation.

It was one of those clever little fouls that does a handy job, but rarely draws more than a reproachful look and a free kick: except, this time, De Bleeckere was wise to it. Yes, compared to any number of fouls seen this season, Materazzi may have been hard done by. But who is to say De Bleeckere is wrong and the lenient referees are right? Certainly, Liverpool had equal cause for complaint when he waved away justified appeals for a penalty-area handball against Patrick Vieira in the 60th minute.

That would have put the tie beyond redemption, yet Mancini did not mention it when he listed De Bleeckere’s errors. Inter need to score at least twice on March 11 and Liverpool do not look like a side that could concede two goals in Europe now, even if they wanted to. Well, not unless they draw Barnsley.