Portsmouth 2-0 Liverpool
Liverpool got well and truely beaten at Fratton Park.
Portsmouth never looked out of control. They took the lead just past the half-hour mark thanks to Nadir Belhadj who connected to a Glen Johnson header after Pepe Reina thought he had saved and cleared Kevin-Prince Boateng's strike off Hassan Yebda's cross.It was the first real chance of the match for either side, Johnson coping and reacting weakly and clumsy against his former side.
Things went from bad to worse for Liverpool just before half time when Javier Mascherano saw red for a puch-/strangle-hold tackle against Tal Ben Haim. As it is his second red card of the season, he will be suspended for the next four matches, to make Liverpool's Christmas and New Year even more dire.
The second half continued in a hardly better trend for the Reds, wasting chances and tackling clumsy.
Portsmouth keeper Asmir Begovic kept the main and only scare out well (67). After being sent the wrong way by two deflections through the sleeping Pompey defence, he kept the ball out with his right hand, instinctively and decisively.
Dirk Kuyt and Lucas Leiva were once again the most frustrating, not able to keep hold of or aim with the ball, total wastes. Jamie Carragher and Johnson looked just as unable to cope at the back.
Boateng capped off a fine display by providing Frederic Piquionne from the right, who netted the ball from a tight angle with a right-foot bounce-volley (82).
Pompey celebrated a fully deserved win. Rafael Benitez meanwhile is looking greyer and older by the match, leaving his substitutions too late and seeming to lack options, alternatives and hope more and more so.
Portsmouth Begovic; Finnan, Ben Haim, Kaboul, Hreidarson; Yebda, Boateng (Mullins 89), Brown (c), O'Hara, Belhadj; Piquionne (Kanu 93). Bookings Yebda 48, Piquionne 82. Subs not used Ashdown, Wilson, Hughes, Utaka, Dindane.
Liverpool Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua (Aurelio 68); Kuyt, Lucas (Spearing 88), Gerrard (c), Mascherano, Dossena (Benayoun 53); Torres. Bookings Lucas 47, Torres 56, Johnson 60. Red Mascherano 45. Subs not used Cavalieri, Skrtel, Babel, Ngog.
1st half stats
Portsmouth-Liverpool
Attempts: 6-3
On target: 3-1
Offsides: 0-0
Corners: 4-4
Free kicks: 7-4
Possession: 44%-56% (20.min)
2nd half stats
Portsmouth-Liverpool
Attempts: 6-4
On target: 2-1
Offsides:0-2
Corners: 3-5
Free kicks: 7-3
Possession: 60%-40% (2nd half, 59.min)
Portsmouth-Liverpool
Possession: 45.3%-54.7%
Passing Success: 73.8%-74.9%
Tackles/Success: 33/84.8%-22/77.3%
Territorial Advantage: 52.8%-47.2%
Referee: L. Mason
Man of the match: Nadir Belhadj
No comments:
Post a Comment