• Date: Wed 29 October 2008
  • Venue: Anfield
  • Ref: Tanner, S
  • Attendance: 43,378
Liverpool

Liverpool

Gerrard (76) P

1 - 0

Liverpool vs Portsmouth

Team Lineups

Liverpool

Jose Manuel Reina
Alvaro Arbeloa
Sami Hyypia
Fabio Aurelio
Jamie Carragher
Steven Gerrard (Robbie Keane, 90)
Leiva Lucas
Xabi Alonso
Jermaine Pennant (Yossi Benayoun, 63)
Ryan Babel (Albert Riera, 71)
Dirk Kuyt

Portsmouth

David James
Younes Kaboul
Noe Pamarot
Armand Traore (Niko Kranjcar, 65)
Sylvain Distin
Nadir Belhadj
Lassana Diarra, L (Richard Hughes, 80)
Papa Bouba Diop
John Utaka (Jermain Defoe, 85)
Sean Davis
Peter Crouch


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

Full-Time: LIVERPOOL 1-0 PORTSMOUTH. It's all over and Liverpool remain top of the table but it wasn't a straightforward victory by any means.

90

Keane has an effort which goes wide of the right-hand post

90
Substitution
 

A late change for Liverpool as Steven Gerrard is replaced by Robbie Keane

90

There's three minutes of added time to go as Jermain Defoe goes down in the area but the referee isn't interested

88

It's all Portsmouth in the final minutes and Liverpool are all back defending

86

Portsmouth win a free-kick and everyone comes forward but Dirk Kuyt rises to clear Sean Davis' cross

85
Substitution
 

Jermain Defoe is finally brought on for John Utaka

83

John Utaka has a great chance, unmarked in the area, but just misses Nadir Belhadj's cross

82

Portsmouth are searching for the equaliser and Peter Crouch almost makes an opening for himself but Jamie Carragher prevents the danger

81

Jermain Defoe is still left on the bench for the visitors

80

Adams makes another change and Richard Hughes replaces Lassana Diarra

76

The Anfield crowd are a lot happier now they have the lead while Tony Adams does not look pleased on the touchline

74
Goal
 

LIVERPOOL 1-0 PORTSMOUTH. Steven GERRARD converts the penalty, low into the bottom left-hand corner, and Liverpool are finally ahead

74
Yellow Card
 

Portsmouth undo all their good work as Papa Bouba Diop handles in the area and is booked - Belhadj also sees yellow in the same incident

72

Liverpool step up the pressure as Yossi Benayoun's shot is blocked by Sylvain Distin

70
Substitution
 

Benitez makes a second change as Albert Riera comes on for Ryan Babel

69

Gerrard tries to drive through the Portsmouth defence and almost succeeds but Sylvain Distin gets in the way

67

Ryan Babel is back and causing problems for Portsmouth but his effort from inside the area goes wide

64
Substitution
 

Portsmouth follow suit and bring on Niko Kranjcar for Armand Traore

63

Ryan Babel is down again and needing more treatment

62
Substitution
 

Yossi Benayoun is brought on for Jermaine Pennant as Liverpool look for something different

60

The crowd are beginning to get restless as Liverpool show no signs of breaking the deadlock

58

The best chance of the half so far as Sami Hyypia's close-range header from a corner goes just wide

56

Dirk Kuyt should do better from Fabio Aurelio's cross but he heads into the ground and the ball bounces into the arms of David James

55

Lassana Diarra tries an effort from long range but sends the ball wide of the right-hand post

53

Liverpool continue to dominate but Gerrard is caught offside

51

Steven Gerrard is trying his best to create things for Liverpool and sends in a cross from the right but Dirk Kuyt can't get there and the chance is gone

49
Yellow Card
 

Lassana Diarra picks up the first booking of the game for a foul on Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso takes the resultant free-kick but only hits the wall

48

Armand Traore sends in a good ball but Peter Crouch can't react and Sami Hyypia can clear

47

Neither manager has made any changes at half-time

Second half
 

The second half is underway and Liverpool need to find their cutting edge while Portsmouth will be pleased with their night's work so far

Half time
 

Half-Time: LIVERPOOL 0-0 PORTSMOUTH. A frustrating half for Liverpool who have been unable to convert their possession into clear-cut chances.

45

It's the story of the half for Liverpool as they win another corner but Alvaro Arbeloa's effort is wide

44

Steven Gerrard has a 30-yard effort which is saved by his England team-mate David James and cleared by Noe Pamarot

42

Dirk Kuyt has maybe too much room and can't control the ball when the goal looked wide open

39

The all-action Dirk Kuyt has another effort from the edge of the area from Gerrard's throughball but hits the side netting

37

Babel is back up following his collision with Papa Bouba Diop

35

Ryan Babel is down injured and the players take a breather

33

Portsmouth win a free-kick which is whipped in by Lassana Diarra but Peter Crouch's free header is over the bar

30

Dirk Kuyt has a left-foot effort from just outside the box which flies over the bar

28

Back come Liverpool and Steven Gerrard's free-kick hits the wall, the ball is picked up by Jamie Carragher whose shot is claimed by David James

27

Portsmouth are getting more involved in the game and Peter Crouch and Armand Traore are both caught offside in quick succession

25

Papa Bouba Diop tries his luck from close range but his header from Sean Davis' cross is straight at Reina

23

It's all Liverpool but they need to make their possession count

21

Portsmouth have a rare effort on goal as Lassana Diarra's free-kick is met by Younes Kaboul whose effort from the edge of the area goes wide

19

Ryan Babel weaves his way straight through the Portsmouth defence and gets into the box but Noe Pamarot manages to eventually get the ball away

17

Arbeloa wins a free-kick on the left-hand side of the box, Gerrard takes the free-kick but smashes the ball into the wall

15

Steven Gerrard is at the heart of things for Liverpool and almost sets up Dirk Kuyt

14

Xabi Alonso tries his luck from outside the area but sends the ball wide of the right-hand post

12

Portsmouth win a free-kick which is sent into the area by Nadir Belhadj but straight into the arms of Jose Reina

11

Liverpool have another corner but Lucas heads over the bar from eight yards out - a waste of a free header

9

Liverpool almost open the scoring but Dirk Kuyt's right-foot effort is pushed onto the post by David James

8

Portsmouth go on the attack and Peter Crouch's knockdown is almost met by Sean Davis but Sami Hyypia saves the day for the home side

7

Pennant sends in another cross but this time it's Ryan Babel who almost gets that vital touch

6

Jermaine Pennant wins another corner which almost reaches Dirk Kuyt but the Dutchman can't quite make contact

5

Liverpool are pressing again and Steven Gerrard has put in a couple of good crosses, but the latest move comes to an end as Dirk Kuyt is flagged offside

3

There's a few good battles on tonight between individual players, Ryan Babel has already won a free-kick while Lucas does well against Lassana Diarra in midfield

1
Kickoff
 

The game has kicked off and Liverpool are immediately on the attack, Steven Gerrard's corner is cleared as far as Dirk Kuyt and his shot is over the bar

Awaiting Kickoff
 

The teams are out on a cold Liverpool night - Jermain Defoe is dropped by Tony Adams on his first game in charge while Robbie Keane is on the bench for Liverpool