If there’s one sign that Liverpool are about to face Inter in the Champions League, then it comes from the rumour that Steven Gerrard is to move to Milan.

It is a trick that they have taken out of Real Madrid’s book (remember when they refused to deny reports that David Beckham was to join them just before a semi-final clash with Manchester United?) and this isn’t the first time that they’ve resorted to it.

Last year rumours about Inter’s interest in David Villa started doing the rounds just before they met Valencia in the Champions League. Whilst there might be some truth in the rumours – and given Villa’s form last year, every big team was interested in him – there was no real offer for him.

The same is the case of Steven Gerrard. Putting aside that Controcampo – who first came out with the story - is the kind of paper that would make a tabloid writer sick, there is no real offer from Inter for Gerrard. Gazzetta Dello Sport might be slightly more upmarket, yet it also delights in frivolous rumours especially ones that might give an Italian team some sort of edge.