With Liverpool’s opening Champions League match away to FC Porto on Tuesday, Rafa Benitez reserved several players for the Premiership clash away to Pompey at Fratton Park.

The Reds started the match on the front foot and their first chance fell to Benayoun in the third minute. The midfielder tried his luck from outside the area, but his right footed drive was well blocked by James in the Pompey goal. Xabi Alonso was pulling the strings in midfield and on ten minutes the Spaniard tried his luck with a 30 yard shot which flew over the bar.

The Reds continued to press forward in search of the opening goal and after 16 minutes Pompey’s keeper was called into action again. Crouch collected an inside pass from Voronin and hit his shot low looking for the far post. James was once again Portsmouth’s saviour with another great stop to deny the tall striker. Rafa Benitez’ side had yet to concede a league goal in open play this season, as both Aston Villa and Chelsea scored their goals from the penalty spot; and Pompey were given their chance when on the half hour mark referee Mike Riley pointed to the spot.

The man in black adjudged Arbeloa to have fouled the Portsmouth number 7, a very harsh and disputed decision. Well-travelled striker Kanu stepped up to take the spot kick for Pompey, but Reina guessed right and produced an excellent save to push away the Nigerian’s effort.

Following the penalty Portsmouth began to apply more pressure on the Anfield side with Reina having to be alert to punch away a dangerous cross from Utaka.

The Reds could probably count themselves slightly unlucky to go in at half-time level after creating the only clear-cut chances of the opening 45 minutes.

Straight from restart Crouch almost opened the scoring with a shot over the bar as Liverpool continued to push forward. The Reds almost broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second half. Voronin knocked the ball around Campbell in the Pompey defence but his first time volley clipped the crossbar.

The home side had a great chance to take the lead when Utaka was left with space in the box. The striker though flashed his shot past the post with Reina rooted to the spot. In the 62nd minute Babel gave way for Fernando Torres. With his first touch the Spanish striker beat his marker and surged towards the box, but he was cut down by Pompey defender Johnson. The referee blew for a foul and showed Portsmouth’s left-back a yellow card.

Rafa Benitez decided to shake things up in the middle and brought on Gerrard in place of Pennant. A quick counter-attack started by the Liverpool captain found Torres in some space on the left-hand of the box, but the striker’s shoot flew wide of the upright.

Again it was the Spaniard causing the Pompey defence all the problems. Fernando Torres chased a long hopeful ball and cut inside the defender before crossing low into the box. The draw means that the Reds maintain their unbeaten start to the season, but Liverpool will feel that they let slip two points created a number of chances to win, most notably when smashed a shot against the crossbar and hit over.

On Tuesday the 18th September, Fernando Torres will face FC Porto in the opening fixture of the Champions League. The five time winners will be looking for all three points in their Group A match, as the Reds set out on the road to the final set for Moscow on the 21st May.


Match Stats:

Portsmouth 0 – 0 Liverpool

-Portsmouth:

James, Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Heidarsso, Utaka, Diop, Davis, Muntari, Kanu, Benjani (Kranjcar 67).

Booked: Diop, Davis, Johnson

- Liverpool:

Reina, Finann, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa, Pennant (Gerrard 67), Benayoun, Xabi Alonso (Babel 77), Sissoko, Crouch (Torres 62), Voronin.

Booked: Xabi Alonso, Sissoko