If the Reds are to make good on Rafael Benitez’s promise about a top four place, their away form will have to improve. However defeats to Wigan and Lille were forgotten at Anfield.
Liverpool, with Fernando Torres wearing scarlet laces if not red boots, certainly knows there is no place like home.
There were two changes to the team that lost in France - Alberto Aquilani coming in for Lucas perhaps signified the bold approach that would be taken to the game. Maxi Rodriguez came in for Dirk Kuyt, who has looked laboured in recent weeks.
From a couple of Gerrard free-kicks, Liverpool certainly set about making an early breakthrough. They came closest from the second when Fernando Torres gained a decent sight of goal; his blocked shot leading to a penalty shout.
The ball was blocked by Ricardo Rocha in the area and a hand was used. Only the fact that the Portuguese defender’s arm was relatively close to his body ensuring 27-year-old referee Stuart Atwell gave him the benefit of any doubt.
TV replays suggested the official who has courted controversy got the decision wrong.
It could have cost dear. A Frederic Piquionne counter attack when Javier Mascherano lost the ball left a back-pedalling Liverpool defence four against four. A release to either wing may have found Pepe Reina facing a problem but the Frenchman didn’t have the beating of Reina.
Gerrard failed to capitalise on some pass and move from a groove Reds fans have rarely seen this term when lofting the ball into the Kop. The build up play deserved more - at least a test of the keeper.
Same recipe was in evidence again when Aquilani was presented with an opportunity moments later but the Italian touched the ball wide.
Promising movements continued except or a few lofted balls for Piquionne to chase, Portsmouth were hemmed in. Two more claims for a spot-kick went begging - a Ward challenge on Torres and Michael Brown seeming to push Gerrard down as the pair duelled.
A deserved breakthrough on 25 minutes came when Jamie Ashdown attempted to clear his lines. Earlier in the move Gerrard had poked the ball out of midfield and was forced to give chase as Torres stood in an offside position.
The skipper’s decision to chase through when Marc Wilson laid the ball back paid off as, unable to handle, the Portsmouth keeper opted for a punt up-field rather than the safety of the stands struck the midfielder. Maxi controlled the ball then squared for Torres to slide the ball in.
The next attack saw the advantage doubled. Liverpool’s movement was causing their visitors problems and a few switches left Portsmouth all at sea. Torres took on the role of provider as he bustled through the area and found the Dutchman. A step back creating space or a controlled right foot finish.
Arguably both Torres and Babel were in need of a goal. So too Aquilani who had looked to offer himself as an option in every move and was able to profit from the lack of a marker when drifting inside to meet a Torres back-heeled cross. Ashdown wasn’t equal to the low finish.
Portsmouth, now with the hallmarks of a team in dire straits, were vulnerable to virtually every move into their half and would have conceded a fourth had it not been for the woodwork denying a Torres’ curler from the left.
Gerrard, who seemed to have left his shooting boots at home, put the ball wide when well placed as the pressure continued. Jamie Carragher, who has scored more goals for the opposition than the Reds, lobbed narrowly wide.
Piquionne was always an outlet though one the South Coast side were only able to use sparingly courtesy of balls, which turned Liverpool shot across goal as Portsmouth sporadically flickered into life.
The goal beckoned for Gerrard with a tight angle on the left, just four minutes after the restart. Ashdown saved but there was no respite until a Babel effort from just outside the area took a deflection on its way to the crossbar and then over.
Babel then created an opening for Gerrard. Though in the type of area he loves to take aim at keepers from - central and at the area’s edge - he curled the ball wide.
As Liverpool have proved a three goal lead at half-time doesn’t always determine a team’s fate but Avram Grant’s men looked finished though Brown caused Pepe Reina to make a save with a goal bound shot which was fisted away.
Piquionne caused the next piece of goalmouth action, forcing Ashdown into a tricky save to make when attempting to head back into his keeper’s hands.
After a quiet period, the game burst into some life when another penalty appeal was rejected. It seemed certain Nadir Belhadj had clipped Glen Johnson’s heels and taken nothing of the ball.
Maxi Rodriguez made the most of poor defending by Belhadj to streak down the right wing and square to Torres, though the effort was disappointing.
The game, which seemed to be fizzling out as it entered a final quarter, had one firecracker left. It came from Torres who after receiving a ball from Aquilani turned inside Rocha then slammed an unstoppable shot just inside the post.
A late consolation from Belhadj who had earlier threatened tapping in from short distance after Piquionne’s speculative effort fell kindly.
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Ashok, India around 1 year, 11 months ago