Rafa Benitez predicts Liverpool and Inter Milan will be more evenly matched than many fans expect as the two continental giants lock horns in the Champions League.
The Reds travel to San Siro on Wednesday night for the first leg of their last-16 clash before Inter return the favour in early March.
Liverpool are aiming to be crowned European champions for the seventh time, adding to their triumphs under Jurgen Klopp in 2019 and Benitez 14 years earlier.
They are heavy favourites to overcome three-time champions Inter and reach the quarter-finals, but Benitez insists the two legs will be closely-contested affairs.
The Spaniard, in charge at Anfield between 2004 and 2010 before a brief stint with Inter, believes dominating possession will be crucial for whichever team emerges victorious.
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"Inter did not reach the second round by chance: they are a team that always knows what to do on the pitch and is good at taking advantage of the weaknesses of others," Benitez, who was sacked as Everton boss in January, told Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport.
"His [Inter boss Simone Inzaghi's] 3-5-2 is a module that can create difficulties for teams that are not used to facing him. On the other hand, however, there is a Liverpool with an offensive 4-3-3, which makes aggression and intensity its best weapons.
"I don't expect a double confrontation with a predictable outcome, but two interesting matches in which whoever has control of the ball will prevail.
"Both have the quality and technique to hold the ball and make the others run."
Benitez heaped praise on Liverpool's traditional front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, but also highlighted the threat posed by Diogo Jota.
The Portuguese forward is second only to Salah in the Premier League scoring charts this season with 12 goals in 23 appearances.
Asked whether Inter should be concerned about Salah, Mane and Firmino, Benitez responded: " I would be worried by them, but also by Diogo Jota because he always makes the right moves and reaches the goal with great ease.
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"Those four up front are really strong and well matched. However, Liverpool also have full backs who are good at attacking and placing perfect crosses, they are dangerous on dead balls with [Virgil] Van Dijk and [Joel] Matip and can count on a midfielder who has the strength, intensity and quality of Fabinho.
"They can press high and put you in difficulty with their physicality and the instinct of the attackers, but also play a few metres behind and, after having compacted, start again thanks to the speed of the tips. They are not an easy team to stop."
