Talk lfc match report

Match Report by Robbie Amins for talklfc

Here we go again. By dropping two points against Portsmouth, Liverpool managed to waste their game in hand which is proving to be a common sight in recent seasons. Former Newcastle striker Lomano Lua-Lua's late equaliser ensuring a few more days of frustration for Rafa Benitez and his men.

After a quiet start, Liverpool finally created their first chance when Xabi Alonso picked out Steven Gerrard on the right flank and his cross shot had to be parried away by Portsmouth keeper Jamie Ashdown with Milan Baros ready to pounce. Didi Hamann then failed to find the target from close range after Antonio Nunez had flicked on a corner from Gerrard.

Nunez then wasted an opportunity when he had time and space but succeeded only in sending a weak shot into the arms of Ashdown after Gerrard had done well to pick him out at the back post. Harry Kewell was then caught in two minds when at the edge of the box, he tried to play in Steve Finnan and the ball drifted out of play.

Portsmouth were doing well as a defensive unit and tried to launch counter-attacks. Lua Lua continued to look dangerous for Portsmouth on the break and he created a half chance for himself four minutes before the break with a fine solo run, but he did not get enough power on his shot to sufficiently trouble Dudek.

Gary O'Neil then almost got his name as the first scorer on the sheet when the Reds just stood off the midfielder inside the box and he was unlucky to see his shot fly just wide of the target.

After probably some harsh words from Rafa Benitez, Liverpool started to apply more pressure on Pompey's defence after the break. Gerrard's powerful effort just failing to find the net. Harry Kewell who was lacklustre in the first half to say the least improved in the second forty-five. The Australian's shot just wide of Ashdown's left-hand post.

The unmarked Hamann really should have scored when Djimi Traore's cross picked him out in front of goal, but he directed his header too close to Ashdown allowing the keeper to push out his effort. That was probably the best goalscoring opportunity that they carved out and Hamann wasted it. But Kewell was finding a lot of space down the left flank and his fierce drive from range went just wide. Ashdown then made another good block from another Harry Kewell effort in the 69th minute.

The pressure finally paid off a minute later. Who else if not Stevie Gerrard to open the scoring for the home side. He unleashed a cracker following Didi Hamann's lay-off from a freekick. The Reds seemed set to secure the much-needed points as the match ticked into stoppage time but Portsmouth, who frustrated Liverpool in the FA Cup here last season, had other ideas.

If anyone looked like scoring, it was the home side who were looking more likely to add to their one-goal lead. But in the last moments of the match, disaster struck. Jerzy Dudek who was doing well before this palmed Matthew Taylor's cross into LuaLua's path when it should have been a routine take.
1-1....Tresor Lomano Lua-Lua the hero for Porsmouth. Two points dropped. The result left Liverpool six points behind Manchester United in fourth place and Portsmouth have now not lost a match in the four matches since Harry Redknapp's resignation.

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Liverpool have been frustrated in their bid to make it seven home wins this season after Lomana Lua Lua resuced a point for Portsmouth in the last minute. Steven Gerrard's superb opener wasn't enough for the home team and they have wasted the game in hand. Let's see what they said after the match....

by Robbie Amins' for talklfc

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez: "It is a pity as we had many opportunities to score and they scored in the last minute with a good cross and some unlucky play for us. Of course it is a disappointing result and people will say we have lost two points. But the table will say we have gained one, so it could have been worse. We had many many opportunities to score and as I have said before 1-0 is not enough. It is a problem when you don't have opportunities, but when you have chances you cannot say anything to the players."

"I think their player tried to cross the ball but in the end it was a shot. The goalkeeper did his best to get it away and was unlucky. I haven't seen it on the video but I want to watch it again. The important thing tonight was that we didn't take the chances. We had enough to win the game convincingly but we only scored one. In football you can never feel safe when you have only scored one."

Portsmouth caretaker manager Joe Jordan: "I'm just delighted to get a point. We didn't think we were going to get anything. We had to defend and endure a bit of pressure. It was a great relief to see the goal. We knew we would have to face a little bit of pressure, and they stretched us. But for all those efforts, they scored from a set-piece."

Portsmouth goalscorer Lomano Lua-Lua: "We kept going. We did not let our heads go down, and finally it paid off. We believe in ourselves, and it paid off in the end. We knew we could get a point here so we just kept going."

"They are going really well. It is a lot of pressure, because Harry did well. We wish him all the best - but with the supporters we have we can only do better for them. Joe Jordan is a good man. He is similar to Harry in that he gets us motivated. Whatever manager we have, what is important for us is to stay where we are and keep ourselves up. At the start of the season, Harry said we were good enough to finish in the top half of the table - and we will try to do that."