Monday 15^th March 20:00

Liverpool entertain Pompey at Anfield in a must win game for both teams.

History

Last year Liverpool did the double over Portsmouth with a 3-2 away victory following a 1-0 win at home.  In the home game, Liverpool dominated but failed to break a resilient Pompey down until the 75^th minute.  Sami Hyypia went up to head a corner towards goal but Bouba Diop inexplicably punched the ball off his head.  The referee awarded the penalty and Gerrard slammed the ball into the bottom corner.  Several more chances followed but 1-0 proved to be enough.

The return game saw Portsmouth take the lead twice before ultimately losing.  A poor 1^st half was reminiscent of the Anfield game as Pompey failed to cause Reina any problems in goal, although Liverpool were little better.  The second half was much brighter and, after an attacking substituion from each side, Portsmouth scored against the run of play.  Decent work from LFC old boy Crouch and a mistake from the Reds’ defence saw the ball fall to Nugent who slotted past Reina.  Alonso came on and Liverpool finally had the creativity they needed in the middle of the park.  A minute later James bizarrely handled the ball outside his area and the ref gave the free kick – Alonso passed to Aurelio who drilled home.  Another defensive lapse saw Pompey go in front again when a free kick was headed in by Hreidarsson.  Last season though, Liverpool had the knack of winning from losing positions and this was no exception.  On 84 minutes, Torres got behind the back line and pulled the ball back for Kuyt who nearly fluffed it before scoring past James.  The points were won in ijury time when Benayoun got to the byline and found Torres in the box.  The Spanish hitman doesn’t miss from there and he hammered a header past James.

This season, the worst Liverpool performance of the season (until Wigan perhaps) saw Pompey win 2-0 at Fratton Park.

Head to head

Total

Liverpool – 26

Portsmouth – 21

Draw – 18

At Anfield

Liverpool – 16

Portsmouth – 4

Draw – 11

Injuries

Liverpool are without Skrtel (metatarsal) while Aurelio (thigh) and Benayoun (ankle) are doubts.

Portsmouth are missing Prince Boateng (ankle) while late decisions will be made on Mokoena, Smith and Vanden Borre.

Form

Liverpool are having the seaosn from Hell – one minute we grind out a result and we think the form is returning, the next game we lose to mediocre opposition.  Pompey are bottom of the league and in dire straits financially.  This could be a real chance for Torres, Kuyt and Ngog to score a few and generate a bit of confidence, but it could also be another Wigan.

Teams

Liverpool (from) – Reina, Cavalieri, Johnson, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Degen, Carragher, Insua, Aurelio, Babel, Mascherano, Benayoun, Maxi, Gerrard, Kuyt, Lucas, Riera, Ngog.

Possible starting 11 – Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Riera, Gerrard, Torres.

Portsmouth (last game) – James, Hreidarrson, Finnan, Ben Haim, Belhadj, O’Hara, Brown, Wilson, Piquionne, Webber, Dindane.

TV

This game will be shown on ESPN, see the forum for links to streams and for match chat.

My prediction

Liverpool have to win this game and I think they will.  If we score an early goal , Pompey will come out more and that could leave space for  Torres.  O’Hara is their most dangerous player, he’s a tricky player who can unlock defences and create problems – keep him quiet and we are in for an easier ride.

3-0 Torres (2), Gerrard