Premier League - Liverpool overcome Portsmouth

Eurosport - Thu, 30 Oct 10:11:00 2008

Liverpool overcame a stubborn Portsmouth side 1-0 at Anfield in Tony Adams's first match in charge to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League - Steven Gerrard celebrates Liverpool's winning goal against Portsmouth - 0

Steven Gerrard's well-struck penalty into the bottom corner following a bizarre handball by Papa Bouba Diop with 16 minutes remaining proved decisive after Pompey had seemed set to frustrate the Reds.

Dirk Kuyt saw a low early effort saved by Pompey goalkeeper David James, who tipped the ball up and on to the post, and Liverpool had several other chances to score before Gerrard's winner.

Barring a spell of possession in the first half and a flurry of attacks in the final stages, new manager Adams had overseen a defensive visit to Merseyside.

Jermain Defoe was left out in favour of a one-man attack spearheaded by Peter Crouch, who was mostly reduced to chasing long balls on his return to Anfield.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez also picked a lone striker, leaving Robbie Keane on the bench and going with the in-form Kuyt.

The versatile Netherlands forward was unfortunate not to score a few minutes before half-time, spinning with the ball following a strong run by Gerrard and striking a shot into the side netting from the right corner of the box.

Lucas, picked in midfield alongside Xabi Alonso, should have scored from a Gerrard corner when he was left alone in the centre of the box but directed his header over the bar.

At the other end, Bouba Diop should also have nodded home when left alone just outside the six-yard box by centre-halves Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia, but headed straight at a grateful Jose Reina.

That was the closest Pompey came as Liverpool dominated great swathes of the match.

Before the break Alvaro Arbeloa, who managed to get forward often from right-back, shot from a Jermaine Pennant short corner and the ball dipped over James's outstretched hand and just past the far post.

Soon after Ryan Babel, preferred to Albert Riera, and Gerrard worked to earn a chance for the skipper. He shot low and James parried, but with a second striker lacking, there was no one to follow it up.

In the second period, with Liverpool attacking the Kop, Gerrard hooked a dangerous cross between James and his defence after sprinting to the right side of the box with Kuyt a yard away from reaching it.

Younes Kaboul was lucky to avoid a booking when he raked his studs down the knee of the leaping Babel but he was shown a yellow card for dissent following the penalty decision against Bouba Diop.

The Senegalese threw both arms at the ball as he rose to challenge Hyypia and it was perhaps the easiest decision referee Steve Tanner will ever make. The midfielder also went into the book.

Gerrard tucked the ball beyond the outstretched hand of James to continue the hope on the red half of Merseyside that the Reds can finally challenge for the Premier League title under Benitez.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 134 - 153 of 153

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Good win. Good 3 points

    From Suzy, on Fri 31 Oct 7:04PM

  2. WELL, AFTER SEE THE MATCH AGAIN, THIS MATCH LIVERPOOL WIN BY A PENALTY, I MUST SAY LIVERPOOL ARE ALWAYS VERY VERY HAPPY WHEN THEY SCORE A PENALTY, WHO WILL MISS WHEN U STAND IN FRONT OF A BIG GOAL POST? NOTHING TO PROUD OF THE WIN...ITS SHOULD BE ENDED IN 0-0.

    From kathy, on Fri 31 Oct 9:59AM

  3. For all the idiots who despise Liverpools position at the Top Of The Table, please define for me, the word luck this season

    Did luck play a part in,

    Losing Gerrard and especially Torres for big matches?
    Losing Martin Skrtel for 3 months?
    The only other team capable of a challenge this season (Chelsea), unable to score against Liverpool?
    Having other players come into form when they have been riducled by other supporters for the last year? eg Kuyt
    Dominating the field of play for 90 minutes?
    Liverpool defenders doing their job?
    Liverpool scoring more goals than their opponents?

    From Creaven91, on Fri 31 Oct 3:29AM

  4. Kathy,y wont u jst respect ur self?U mst b a chronic chelsea fan.Am so sorry 4 wat we did 2 u pipl at stamford.I know dats ur reason 4 hatin liverpool wit passion.But did u kno wat,u ar a novice.Get ur self useful

    From anioko e, on Thu 30 Oct 11:34PM

  5. 1 nil 9 nil it dosn,t matter three points is what record shows last season that game may well have eneded in a draw and all them points add up 9 points behind last season and failing to beat the top teams look at the amount of games chelsea won 1 nil and man u. liverpool are in a strong position so come on lads lets go and win it and get back on top were we belong

    From liam, on Thu 30 Oct 9:20PM

  6. kathy girl am new here. the lucky you said stay in liverpool side.they are still wining.thank you to say liverpool is luckypool they in d numero uno. by the way blame into the defender his defence stink.

    From unov, on Thu 30 Oct 8:26PM

  7. History quoters from Luckypool at it again.. The only club to achieve getting alll English clubs banned from europe!!!!

    From Sadoldgit, on Thu 30 Oct 5:08PM

  8. dnewlinblackwell You are so angry because you know that 99 per cent of your won games have been lucky this season with Luckypool being benifitting from dodgy ref decisions lucky deflections and several teams like Portsmouth pushing the self distruct button . Dont think you have won one yet cleanly

    From Sadoldgit, on Thu 30 Oct 5:06PM

  9. and more than that liverpool is the champion not like manchester united who is the sixth in the premiere league than haha your the looser we're gonna always still the winners and no one not even stupid people will let us not love liverpool
    you will never walk alone reds
    liverpool is the champion

    From asmarnathalie, on Thu 30 Oct 3:49PM

  10. The truth is that you kathy is the looser because you are talking in a place that you shouldn't talk in

    From asmarnathalie, on Thu 30 Oct 3:47PM

  11. Msg 146. So we are all losers are we kathy?? Is that why there are 5 CL cups in our trophy room?? I can recommend a good duster shop if you feel like giving yours a clean!! YNWA

    From Bootlicker54, on Thu 30 Oct 3:27PM

  12. Hi Pete, sorry can't make it tonight ... keeping tabs on the other drag queen 'not printable'

    From Terence P, on Thu 30 Oct 3:10PM

  13. hi

    From Teddy, on Thu 30 Oct 3:03PM

  14. where are all the LOSERS REPLY.....?? WHERE ARE ALL OF U GO, LOSERS?

    From kathy, on Thu 30 Oct 2:57PM

  15. the real loser are those who scare to lose, so liverpool and all the so called never walk alone fans are all.....LOSERS....

    From kathy, on Thu 30 Oct 1:06PM

  16. by the way, TOTALLYTV, u and all liverpool fans are BLINDED, of course u can't see clearly.......hahahahaha......yo..yo..check it out....yo

    From kathy, on Thu 30 Oct 12:51PM

  17. to james and those unknown, so sorry, im not stupid, under record and sports news, the correct report are from 1988 to 2008, liverpool indeed really didn't even won 1 time, its was b4 1988, they may win many times, so soul-search all ur memory

    From kathy, on Thu 30 Oct 12:49PM

  18. Tranny malingering gobshites.
    Lfc needs Torres to win the premiership.

    From teatotaller, on Thu 30 Oct 12:46PM

  19. kathy.

    lucky you've got a blurry picture..so we cant see your ugly face....
    pity the pic is taken up by some sloppy hanging milkshakes...ever heard of wonderbra?

    From teatotaller, on Thu 30 Oct 12:43PM

  20. i think keane should be replaced eventually :( dont u think ????????
    but who would be the ideal replacement to partner up in front with el NINO ?

    From elias.daher89, on Thu 30 Oct 12:19PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account