MILAN, March 12: Liverpool eased into the Champions League quarter-finals after a superb strike by Fernando Torres gave last season’s runners-up a 1-0 win at Inter Milan on Tuesday and a 3-0 aggregate victory.

Inter, who had centre back Marco Materazzi harshly dismissed in the first leg, also went down to 10 men in the return match when defender Nicolas Burdisso was sent off for a second booking after a clumsy 50th-minute tackle on Lucas Leiva.

Torres scored his fourth goal of the Champions League campaign 13 minutes later with a turn-and-shot on the edge of the area following a good run and pass from Fabio Aurelio.

The Serie ‘A’ leaders had several chances at a cacophonous San Siro but Argentine Julio Cruz and strike partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic were wasteful in front of goal.

Liverpool join the other three English entrants, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, in the quarter-finals with AS Roma the only Italian side through.

Premier League leaders Arsenal beat holders AC Milan 2-0 at the San Siro last week to win 2-0 on aggregate and although Liverpool were not as stylish they completed the job just as effectively in a fast-paced encounter.—Reuters