After a season of significant under-achievement, culminating in Saturday's FA Cup defeat against Barnsley, such confidence might seem likely to be in short supply - with Inter Milan waiting for the Reds at Anfield tomorrow.

But Brazilian full-back Aurelio, who could make his comeback from a thigh muscle tear against the Italians, argues Liverpool must put aside their concerns about the off-field controversies at Anfield.

He said: "The season has not been what we expected.

"Some of the problems around the club regarding the owners maybe have distracted us from our objectives.

"We must forget all this now and do our best for Liverpool. The players do believe we can win the Champions League.

"We have that ability - and although we have not been showing that form, we know we must start producing the performances.

"There are great players here, a great squad. We must keep believing."

Aurelio found himself surprisingly thrust into the spotlight today to speak for his colleagues - having not even been in the match-day squad against Barnsley.

UEFA regulations are that clubs must provide their manager and a player for media interview the day before a tie, and the convention is that the duty falls to a high-profile player.

Instead, it was 28-year-old Aurelio who did the talking.

He reported: "I think confidence is still high - we cannot allow disappointment from the last game to affect us as we prepare for the next one.

"I believe our chances for this Champions League game are 50-50. We want to progress and fight for another European title - that is the aim.

"It was a very disappointing defeat in the FA Cup. But the history of Liverpool is very strong in Europe, and we want to maintain that tradition.

"We have a good opportunity by playing so soon again at home to put things right, to give ourselves a good lead to take into the second match."

Aurelio has respect but not fear for tomorrow's opponents.

"Inter Milan are very good in their own league, a very tough side," he notes.

"But to win a European trophy you must beat the best in Europe, and we need to believe in ourselves.

"We know we are all involved in this together - it is not just the boss and the players now. It is a case of all of us fighting together. We are all working for the same thing, and that is for the best of the club.

"This is a great game now, and we must be 100% in it. Liverpool has a great history in this competition, and we need to maintain that. This game is tough, but we know it is only us who can change the situation.

"If we produce a great game it will improve out confidence and be a step forward to changing the situation the side finds itself in.

"Not being involved in the fight for the Premier League is not what we expected. Then to lose like we did in the FA Cup is also very distressing.

"Now we must fight for the Champions League. We must stay alive in this competition."