- Gerrard (76 pen)
- Date:2008-10-29
- Kick-off:20:00
- Venue:Anfield
- Attendance:43378
- Referee:Tanner, S
Live Commentary
90mins
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.
90mins
A late change for Liverpool as Steven Gerrard is replaced by Robbie Keane
90mins
There's three minutes of added time to go as Jermain Defoe goes down in the area but the referee isn't interested
88mins
It's all Portsmouth in the final minutes and Liverpool are all back defending
86mins
Portsmouth win a free-kick and everyone comes forward but Dirk Kuyt rises to clear Sean Davis' cross
85mins
Jermain Defoe is finally brought on for John Utaka
83mins
John Utaka has a great chance, unmarked in the area, but just misses Nadir Belhadj's cross
82mins
Portsmouth are searching for the equaliser and Peter Crouch almost makes an opening for himself but Jamie Carragher prevents the danger
81mins
Jermain Defoe is still left on the bench for the visitors
80mins
Adams makes another change and Richard Hughes replaces Lassana Diarra
76mins
The Anfield crowd are a lot happier now they have the lead while Tony Adams does not look pleased on the touchline
74mins
LIVERPOOL 1-0 PORTSMOUTH. Steven GERRARD converts the penalty, low into the bottom left-hand corner, and Liverpool are finally ahead
74mins
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
72mins
Liverpool step up the pressure as Yossi Benayoun's shot is blocked by Sylvain Distin
70mins
Benitez makes a second change as Albert Riera comes on for Ryan Babel
69mins
Gerrard tries to drive through the Portsmouth defence and almost succeeds but Sylvain Distin gets in the way
67mins
Ryan Babel is back and causing problems for Portsmouth but his effort from inside the area goes wide
64mins
Portsmouth follow suit and bring on Niko Kranjcar for Armand Traore
63mins
Ryan Babel is down again and needing more treatment
62mins
Yossi Benayoun is brought on for Jermaine Pennant as Liverpool look for something different
60mins
The crowd are beginning to get restless as Liverpool show no signs of breaking the deadlock
58mins
The best chance of the half so far as Sami Hyypia's close-range header from a corner goes just wide
56mins
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
55mins
Lassana Diarra tries an effort from long range but sends the ball wide of the right-hand post
53mins
Liverpool continue to dominate but Gerrard is caught offside
51mins
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
49mins
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
48mins
Armand Traore sends in a good ball but Peter Crouch can't react and Sami Hyypia can clear
47mins
Neither manager has made any changes at half-time
46mins
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
45mins
Half-Time: LIVERPOOL 0-0 PORTSMOUTH. A frustrating half for Liverpool who have been unable to convert their possession into clear-cut chances.
45mins
It's the story of the half for Liverpool as they win another corner but Alvaro Arbeloa's effort is wide
44mins
Steven Gerrard has a 30-yard effort which is saved by his England team-mate David James and cleared by Noe Pamarot
42mins
Dirk Kuyt has maybe too much room and can't control the ball when the goal looked wide open
39mins
The all-action Dirk Kuyt has another effort from the edge of the area from Gerrard's throughball but hits the side netting
37mins
Babel is back up following his collision with Papa Bouba Diop
35mins
Ryan Babel is down injured and the players take a breather
33mins
Portsmouth win a free-kick which is whipped in by Lassana Diarra but Peter Crouch's free header is over the bar
30mins
Dirk Kuyt has a left-foot effort from just outside the box which flies over the bar
28mins
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
27mins
Portsmouth are getting more involved in the game and Peter Crouch and Armand Traore are both caught offside in quick succession
25mins
Papa Bouba Diop tries his luck from close range but his header from Sean Davis' cross is straight at Reina
23mins
It's all Liverpool but they need to make their possession count
21mins
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
19mins
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
17mins
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
15mins
Steven Gerrard is at the heart of things for Liverpool and almost sets up Dirk Kuyt
14mins
Xabi Alonso tries his luck from outside the area but sends the ball wide of the right-hand post
12mins
Portsmouth win a free-kick which is sent into the area by Nadir Belhadj but straight into the arms of Jose Reina
11mins
Liverpool have another corner but Lucas heads over the bar from eight yards out - a waste of a free header
9mins
Liverpool almost open the scoring but Dirk Kuyt's right-foot effort is pushed onto the post by David James
8mins
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
7mins
Pennant sends in another cross but this time it's Ryan Babel who almost gets that vital touch
6mins
Jermaine Pennant wins another corner which almost reaches Dirk Kuyt but the Dutchman can't quite make contact
5mins
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
3mins
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
1mins
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
0mins
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
Match Preview
advertisement
advertisment
Match Report
A second-half Steven Gerrard penalty kept Liverpool three points clear at the top of the Premier League table after the Reds secured a 1-0 win against Portsmouth on a cold night at Anfield.
In a game of few clear-cut chances the Reds dominated possession but struggled to score against a well-organised Pompey side that was 14 minutes from taking a point from the league leaders.
Liverpool started the brighter of the two sides and for the first 20 minutes looked like they were playing a 4-2-4 formation with Dirk Kuyt and Gerrard leading the line with Jermaine Pennant and Ryan Babel bombing down the wings.
It was Kuyt who had the opening chance within the first two minutes when a driven corner passed through a crowded Portsmouth box straight to the Dutch forward but he blasted high over a grateful David James' bar.
The home side kept up the pressure and it was Kuyt again who let rip from the edge of the box on nine minutes that brought the best out of the Pompey shot-stopper whose strong hand down to his right pushed the ball onto the post.
The lead should have been taken on 11 minutes when an inswinging Gerrard corner found Lucas unmarked but the midfielder rose unchallenged and powered the ball over the upright.
Hoping to kick-start his managerial role with a win, Portsmouth boss Tony Adams decided to play former Red Peter Crouch as a lone striker and, despite winning every long ball pumped up front, the lone forward provided little threat for his side.
Against the run of play the visitors should have taken the lead after a Sean Davis cross found Papa Bouba Diop in the six-yard box with only Pepe Reina to beat but his header was directed straight into the arms of the keeper.
Liverpool were restricted to long-range efforts and a 30-yard drive from Jamie Carragher and a similar effort from Gerrard just before the break tested James.
The second half was a much more open game with both sides creating chances but it was Liverpool who should have taken the lead after Gerrard drilled the ball across the face of goal only for Kuyt to waste the chance.
It was the Liverpool captain who split the defence just before the hour mark to feed Kuyt who cleverly laid the ball into the path of an onrushing Lucas inside the box but a last-gasp lunge from Sylvain Distin blocked the shot and kept the scores level.
The subsequent corner was then headed against the outside of the post by Sami Hyypia who rose highest to meet the looping cross.
Liverpool must have thought they would never put the ball in the net as Distin again saved his side from going a goal behind after substitute Yossi Benayoun was clean through on goal but the towering centre-half managed to throw his long legs in front of the shot.
The England number one almost played his side into trouble on 74 minutes after a quick throw out to Lassana Diarra put the midfielder under instant pressure and his mis-control gifted the ball to Arbeloa who drilled a thunderous effort goalbound.
However, the keeper was well positioned to palm the ball wide for a corner.
With only 14 minutes left on the clock a moment of madness from Bouba Diop gave the game away as he needlessly handled the ball in the area from the corner.
After losing his man Bouba Diop struggled to make up the lost ground and with two fists raised he punched the ball off the head of Kuyt giving the referee no option but to point to the spot.
Despite guessing the right way, James could do nothing to keep out Gerrard's low thunderbolt into the corner of the net.
The visitors could have squared the match on 83 minutes after a high cross from Nadir Belhadj but John Utaka couldn't stretch his neck any further and missed the ball from four yards out.
Liverpool Team
Portsmouth Team
Liverpool | Portsmouth |
Corners
| 7 | 1 |
Fouls
| 13 | 12 |
Goal attempts
| 22 | 4 |
Shots off target
| 10 | 3 |
Offsides
| 4 | 5 |
90mins
Keane has an effort which goes wide of the right-hand post