They tried to make it an occasion that befitted the reputations of the teams but, for once, Anfield on a European night did not resemble a furnace.
The fire and fury that was missing for large chunks of a tense night were also absent from Liverpool's play.
Jurgen Klopp had warned that a two-goal advantage was problematic and you could see why. Liverpool didn't know whether to stick or twist and neither did the fans.
There were reasons. Liverpool's ruthlessness in Italy three weeks earlier had put the quarter-finals in sight and they seemed intent on protecting the advantage they held over Inter rather than trying to nullify them with one of those early blitzkriegs.