Hicks tells Klinsmann to forget Liverpool job
-
Premier League Preview: Portsmouth - Liverpool
Rock-bottom Pompey play host to rebuilding Reds.
EPL: Fernando Torres, Liverpool - Manchester United (Getty Images)Two of the Premier League's more troubled teams go head-to-head in the first match of the weekend, with Liverpool taking a trip down to last-placed Portsmouth.
The cash-strapped Hampshire side fell to Chelsea in midweek, but it was a much improved performance as Avram Grant watched his old charge Frank Lampard decide the contest with a second-half penalty.
Yet Pompey remain firmly rooted to the foot of the table with just 11 points to their name, so they will be desperate to get something when Rafael Benitez's Reds come to town.
The Anfield giants claimed a sorely needed win on Wednesday, triumphing 2-1 over Wigan Athletic despite failing to take full advantage of their many goal-scoring opportunities.
And yet Liverpool are still a long way from where they had hoped to be by this point of the season. The fact that they are level on points with Birmingham City sums up the situation in the Kopites' eyes, although that rather exaggerates their sixth-place standing.
Still, Champions League qualification is a must for the 18-time English champions, and picking up a result against the cellar dwellers is essential if they are to achieve that goal.
FORM GUIDE
Portsmouth
Dec 16: Chelsea 2-1 Portsmouth
Dec 12: Sunderland 1-1 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Dec 5: Portsmouth 2-0 Burnley (Premier League)
Dec 1: Portsmouth 2-4 Aston Villa (League Cup)
Nov 28: Portsmouth 1-4 Manchester United (Premier League)
Liverpool
Dec 16: Liverpool 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Dec 13: Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal
Dec 9: Liverpool 1-2 Fiorentina (Champions League)
Dec 5: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Liverpool
Nov 29: Everton 0-2 Liverpool
TEAM NEWS
Portsmouth
Younes Kaboul returns to the fold after missing the Chelsea clash through suspension. Thus, injured goalkeeper David James aside, gaffer Grant can indulge in that rarest of coaching delights: a fully fit and available squad.
Last starting XI (vs. Chelsea): Begovic, Finnan, Ben Haim, Wilson, Hreidarsson, Bouba Diop, Mullins, Boateng, O'Hara, Piquionne, Mokoena.
Liverpool
Fernando Torres was benched for the win over Wigan, coming on late to wrap up the points with a Kop-end finish. The striker should start at Fratton Park, although young David Ngog continues to impress when given the chance.
Neither Lucas Leiva nor Alberto Aquilani featured in the first XI in midweek, but one would expect the former to reclaim his place in central midfield.
Glen Johnson was left out altogether on Wednesday through injury and remains a slight doubt, while Albert Riera is still battling hamstring trouble.
Last starting XI (vs. Wigan Athletic): Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Insua, Benayoun, Mascherano, Gerrard, Aurelio, Kuyt, Ngog.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool - Fernando Torres
The Spaniard got back on the scoresheet at long last with a second-half strike against Wigan, and he would love to bag another this weekend as he continues his return from injury.
Portsmouth - Kevin-Prince Boateng
He was a monumental flop at Tottenham Hotspur, but the German enforcer has become a key man in the Pompey midfield. He likes to get forward at every opportunity, so Mascherano et al will have to keep an eye out.
PREDICTION
Portsmouth 0-2 Liverpool -
Liverpool should win this game because Portsmouth are the weakest and the Red is under big pressure.
-
LIVE AT CHANNEL 27, FOOTBALL CHANNEL. 8.40 PM.
-
portsmouth 1 - 0 liverpool
-
Mascherano got sent off!
-
Although its a bad challenge, i didnt think it warrant a red .....a yellow definitely but a red is debatable..
-
Originally posted by ChingAlvin:
Although its a bad challenge, i didnt think it warrant a red .....a yellow definitely but a red is debatable..
Quite poor thing.
Got injured (until the medics had to tend to him), and still kena red card at the same time.
-
why put dossena instead of benayoun or babel? Rafa needs to be replace before liverpool falls further...
-
I think Mascherano knew he would be sent off so try to fake injury and see the referee will forget or not... I think if he stands up immediately after the foul, maybe it would have been a yellow and the game restarted soon... but in trying to pretend, the referee had time to go over to the 4th official, he was doomed... A silly tackle though, I think apart from his hands and feet hurting the player, his knee also kind of went between Ben Haim legs and hit him in his private part...
-
Liverpool can only be worse from now on.
There is no re-building if you have the same manager and players.
Torres and gerard are not magicians.
They cannot survive with a lousy team that leak silly goals.
-
fake? i think you miss out that lump on mascherano's knee.
the red was debatable.
but no doubts, liverpool deserve to lose this game.
rafael again, need to go.
-
I think that lump you saw was his knee bone... lol
-
If Glen Johnson is England's finest right-back... Then die liao lah...
But I think Pool can still come back if they don't lose their heads and get another red card...
-
dun see liverpool can win this game...
-
Pool are not putting enough pressure on Portsmouth... Even when they are taking throw ins, Pool players are not in their face... giving them time to take their throw ins easily...
-
Ok forget it lah... 2 - 0 to Portsmouth already... game over...
-
complete disgrace...
-
WELL DONE MR RAFAEL
-
Poignant is considering his position to cont being a kop, a kop since 9. been a decade
-
Pool has turned the corner again...360 degrees back to where they were!
-
complete disgrace...
-
complete disgrace...
-
finnan must be delighted that he is on the other side today
-
complete disgrace...
-
After MU win, Pool people said they have turned the corner.
After Everton win,Pool people said they have turned the corner
After Wigan win,Pool people said they have turned the corner
I have heard this since Gerard Houllier's time,whats new?
