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Liverpool 1 - 0 Portsmouth
Ed Colenutt, October 29th 2008
A Steven Gerrard penalty saw Liverpool extend their unbeaten run to
17 games as they ran out 1-0 winners over Portsmouth at Anfield.
The result keeps the Reds three points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League with an
impressive 26 points from a possible 30.
The game saw wholesale changes from the side that saw off Chelsea at the weekend, with
Sami Hyypia, Lucas, Ryan Babel
and Jermaine Pennant all returning to the starting lineup. Any fears these changes
may disrupt the recent momentum gained proved to be unfounded though, as the home side started the brighter.
Liverpool came close to opening the scoring after just ten minutes when Dirk Kuyt hit the post from 15 yards with a low curling effort. Pennant received the ball from Lucas and pulled it back to Kuyt, who beat David James with his shot, but the ball rebounded off the woodwork to safety.
Minutes later another golden opportunity went begging, as Lucas headed narrowly over from Pennant’s cross.
This was to prove to be the best of the chances for the first half, as despite dominating possession Liverpool failed to find a way through the Portsmouth defence. On several occasions Gerrard received the ball in dangerous positions to find the box devoid of red shirts to aim for.
Liverpool were by far the superior team throughout the first 45 minutes though, and apart from a Younes Kaboul header after 24 minutes rarely looked in danger of conceding.
The second half started as the first had left off, with Liverpool pushing forward in search of a winner as Portsmouth seemed happy to sit back and settle for a draw.
With the Reds attacking in wave after wave it seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken. Normal service was resumed 15 minutes from time after Papa Bouba Diop handled in the box to gift Liverpool a penalty.
Gerrard stepped up to take the resulting spot kick, and the skipper made no mistake as he coolly slotted the ball home, undoing the visitors good work in shutting Liverpool out.
With the deadlock broken Portsmouth’s gameplan went out of the window and they were forced to go on the offensive. With such little time on the clock it was always going to be a struggle though, and it was now Liverpool’s turn to shut up shop for the remaining minutes, ensuring they remain the only unbeaten team in the Premierhip.
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