Liverpool's round-of-16 tussle with Internazionale on Tuesday – the opening half of a double header pitting Premier League teams against the Milan monoliths in the Champions League this week – is their first meeting since the semi-finals of 1965. Ancient history, perhaps, but claims that Inter bribed a Spanish referee to ensure their progress are part of Liverpool's folklore and will lend vehemence to the first-leg atmosphere at Anfield.

Long story short: Liverpool routed the masters of catenaccio, the system of suffocating defence espoused by coach Helenio Herrera, 3-1 at home but had a goal mysteriously ruled out. At San Siro, Shankly alleged that the referee, Ortiz de Mendebil, allowed the ball to be kicked out of keeper Tommy Lawrence's hands for one goal and gave another after it flew straight in from an indirect free-kick. Liverpool lost 3-0 and their party reportedly saw Senor de Mendebil quaffing champagne with Inter officials.

Whatever the truth, Inter were an outstanding team and retained the trophy. Incredibly, they have not won it in the ensuing 43 years, a feeble performance considering their fan base and financial clout. Compared with six successes by AC Milan over the same period, their under-achievement is similar to Manchester United's two triumphs when set against Liverpool's five.

A third consecutive Serie A title is within sight for Inter, albeit against a backdrop of complaints by the media and rival fans that they receive favouritism from referees. Coach Roberto Mancini derides the suggestion, but it is symptomatic of the culture of corruption in the Italian game that questionable decisions in the Nerazzurri's favour are interpreted within such a context.

When managers moan about England's so-called Big Four benefiting from decisions, the argument is that referees are star-struck around celebrity players or subconsciously scared of a blast from the OId Trafford "hair-dryer".

If there's any intimidating to be done at Anfield, the crowd will do it. The Kop may not be the tumbling, swaying bear-pit of red aggression it was when Shankly fielded a Scottish spine of Lawrence, Ron Yeats and Ian St John, and a wall of sound alone will not perturb Inter. Even so, as Chelsea found in the 2005 semis, the decibel level on big European nights can inspire Liverpool.

And this time they will have a Spaniard scheming against Inter. By outwitting Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho, Rafael Benitez has proved himself more attuned to the tactical nuances of European competition than to relentless battles in the Premier League. He has steered them to two of the past three finals, and if Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard can lift the lesser mortals around them once more, Glenbuck's finest could yet be avenged.

Milan, astonishingly beaten by Liverpool in Istanbul three years ago but victorious in last May's re-match, visit Arsenal on Wednesday in their first leg. An intriguing struggle between a youthful team and one studded with seasoned campaigners, the tie reverses the domestic positions of the one on Merseyside in that Arsene Wenger's team lead are on course for the championship while Milan are scrapping for a top-four spot.

The pedigree of piratical former Rangers scuffler Rino Gattuso and Paolo Maldini, 40 in July, tends to shine through in Europe, providing a platform for the younger, more expressive Kaka and Andrea Pirlo. The exception was the defeat at Celtic on the night Dida performed his dying-swan act. The saying "cheats never prosper" does not always hold true in Italian football, but the Brazilian keeper's grip on the gloves loosened in Glasgow.

Increasingly, Carlo Ancelotti prefers 6ft 7in Australian Zeljko Kalac. When he joined Leicester a decade ago, the club magazine's headline was "Carpenter's son can be new City messiah". No pressure there, then, and he fumbled his way through his only full game. Martin O'Neill later brought him on in the last minute of a play-off final at Wembley, hoping that his size would make him their shoot-out saviour, only for Leicester to score anyway.

Kalac returns to London having allied maturity and technique to his presence. The holders will need those attributes, and more, to subdue Emmanuel Adebayor. The Togolese's scoring feats mean Arsenal fans no longer pine for Thierry Henry, and he does not turn 24 until next week. The Emirates Stadium hopes to see Ancelotti's oldies – without Ronaldo after his career-threatening injury – run ragged, but then the Manchester crowd expected Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo to do likewise to Milan last spring.

The same evening, United go to Lyon, conquerors of Rangers. Alain Perrin, whose time as Portsmouth manager was about as impressive as Kalac's in Leicester's goal, has the hosts on course for a seventh straight French title, while in Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa he has attackers who will soon follow Michael Essien and Florent Malouda to more lucrative pastures.
Whether that adds up to a genuine threat to United must be doubtful. Sir Alex Ferguson insists Lyon represent the hardest opposition they could have drawn, but as his prediction that Arsenal will blow their lead reminded us, his penchant for mind games is undiminished. News that Perrin had signed ex-Ibrox stopper Jean-Alain Boumsong, an accident waiting to happen at Newcastle, can only have encouraged Rooney, Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

Lomana Lua Lua, also previously of Newcastle and Portsmouth, awaits Chelsea in Olympiakos' colours at Piraeus on Tuesday. Mourinho twice led Chelsea to the last four without advancing, and a quarter-final place will be the least expected of Avram Grant. Even Fergie would be hard pressed to deny that the Greek champions appear the weakest survivors, yet their wins at Lazio and Werder Bremen in the group stages will doubtless have the lugubrious Israeli issuing dark warnings.

Liverpool v Inter Milan
ITV1, 7.45pm

Last year's runners-up tussle with Italy's dominant club. Inter may be getting their way in Serie A, but they last found fortune in the European Cup in 1965 – since when AC Milan have struck gold regularly. While Liverpool have difficulties on and off the park, Roberto Mancini's Inter side are not exactly in the habit of losing games. A late surge got Liverpool through their group. Inter tumbled this time last year to Valencia. Dejan Stankovic is an Inter injury concern.

Olympiacos v Chelsea
ITV4, 7.45pm

Chelsea have become habitual semi-finalists and should be confident of dealing with Olympiacos whose previous best was the quarter-finals nine years ago. Nicolas Anelka bolsters Avram Grant's forward options as Chelsea's boss welcomes back Didier Drogba from African Cup of Nations duty. Olympiacos are on form in the Greek Super League and they are unbeaten at home in the Champions League but it would be a surprise if Chelsea fail to make the quarter-finals.

Roma v Real Madrid
Sky Sports 2, 7.45pm

Roma and Real renew their rivalry and the Spaniards are entitled to be upbeat for they have never lost in the Olimpico. Real tend to get the upper-hand over Roma in the Champions League. Bernd Schuster's Madrid are enjoying a super season and they have been formidable in the Bernabeu. Roma also are having a fine campaign so this meeting has great potential. Real are without the injured Robinho. Roma reached the quarter-finals last year, and if they are to do so again, they'll want a first-leg lead.

Schalke 04 v FC Porto
Sky Sports Xtra, 7.45pm

Porto return to Gelsenkirchen, the scene of their 2004 triumph, when Jose Mourninho's team beat Monaco to become champions of Europe. This current Porto side are going great guns in their own league and this is their fifth appearance in the Champions League last 16 in the past six years. It is Schalke's first time, but Germany's sole remaining representatives in the contest have been cheered by their recent upturn in form. Schalke's strikers will have to work hard to get any joy, but it is possible.

Arsenal v AC Milan
Sky Sports 2, 7.45pm

Arguably the most irresistible dish on the menu, Arsenal, the 2006 finalists, battle the reigning champions and seven times winners. Remarkably, they have met only once before, a Super Cup bout 14 years ago that resulted in a Milan victory. Naturally, Paolo Maldini was playing. Ronaldo's latest injury has brought some gloom to the Milan camp but Rino Gattuso has declared himself fit having recovered earlier than expected from injury. This game should be a real treat for the Emirates crowd.

Celtic v Barcelona
Sky One & Sky Sports Interactive, 7.45pm

Two teams who know each other well. Celtic knocked Barcelona out of the UEFA Cup in 2003 but can they kick an out-of-sorts Barca from the Champions League? Oleguer Presas is sidelined and there is no Carles Puyol either. Celtic are minus the suspended Scott Brown as Georgios Samaras and Barry Robson are added to the reckoning. Celtic will have to maintain their formidable home record in Europe. And maybe improve on their away form too, to get through.

Lyon v Manchester United
Sky Sports 1, 7.45pm

Manchester United is Lyon's reward for demolishing Rangers at Ibrox. Alex Ferguson sees the French Champions as the hardest possible draw for his United stars. When these teams met a couple of seasons ago, it was tight (a draw in France, United edging it at Old Trafford). Lyon are chasing their seventh consecutive Ligue 1 title and this is their fifth successive showing in the last 16 of the Champions League. Gregory Coupet is back in goal for Lyon after a lengthy lay-off. They may need him.

Fenerbahce v Seville
Sky Sports Interactive, 7.45pm

Whoever wins, there will be a new face in the quarter-finals. Fenerbahce are the only team to have defeated Inter Milan this season. The Turkish champions are thriving under the management of Zico. Seville lost their opening game to Arsenal, but recovered to win their group. The Spanish side won all their home games. As did Fenerbahce who have fairly been firing in the goals of late. Roberto Carlos lines up for the hosts and he knows Seville well from his long days in La Liga.

GARY SUTHERLAND