Goals from Pompey duo Belhadj and Piquionne sealed a valuable 2-0 win for bottom of the table side at home to Liverpool on Saturday. Fernando Torres, who was eyeing his 50th league goal for the Reds, played the full 90 minutes and battled throughout the contest with a physical Pompey backline.

It was a bright start for the hosts on a cold winters day at Fratton Park. Piquionne was denied by Pepe Reina early on, the keeper managing to block the Frenchmans shot.

Next it was Liverpools turn to attack. Fernando Torres found Steve Gerrard with a perfect cross but Dirk Kuyt failed to meet Gerrards headed pass.

Torres movement was causing Portsmouth all sorts of problems at the back and the Spaniard twice came close to grabbing his 50th league goal for Liverpool. The striker curled a right-footed shot inches wide before coming a whiskers away from meeting Gerrards cross across goal.

Portsmouth took the lead in their next attack. Reina saved well from Boateng but Belhadj was on hand to drive home the follow-up.

The Reds were left with an uphill struggle on the stroke of half-time when Mascherano was handed his marching orders by the referee. The midfielder was shown a straight red card for a foul on Ben Haim.

Ten-man Liverpool kept plugging away in the second-half and Gerrard was denied by a brilliant save from Begovic in the Pompey goal.

The Merseysiders continued to push forward, but at the same time the Reds were left exposed at the back. An excellent mazey run from Fernando Torres took him past five players but a last-ditch tackle from Kaboul saved Pompey.

Liverpool were caught out by the coastal club with just under ten minutes remaining. Piquionne sealed all three points for the basement club with his teams second on 81 minutes.

The defeat is the Reds seventh of the season and results elsewhere in the Premier League went against the Anfield club with wins for Spurs, Man City and Aston Villa. The loss now leaves Rafa Benitez side six points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham.


- Match Stats: Portsmouth 2-0 Liverpool

Portsmouth: Begovic, Finnan, Ben-Haim, Kaboul, Hreidarsson, Yebda, Boateng (Mullins, 89), Brown, Belhadj, Piquionne (Kanu, 92), OHara

Booked: Ben Haim, Yebda, Piquionne

Goals: Belhadj 33, Piquionne 81

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Insua (Fabio Aurelio, 67), Agger, Carragher, Mascherano, Leiva (Spearing, 87), Kuyt, Dossena (Benayoun, 53), Gerrard, Torres

Booked: Leiva, Torres, Johnson

Red card: Mascherano