Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth

By Dan Warren

Sylvain Distin's own goal prompted Liverpool celebrations

Liverpool bounced back from their disappointing Carling Cup exit with a slick display which ended Portsmouth's six-match winning run on the road.

Yossi Benayoun fired the Reds ahead with a powerful volley and Pompey's Sylvain Distin inadvertently deflected home for an own goal to make it 2-0.

Benjani's slick control and finish made it 2-1 shortly after the break.

But Fernando Torres' calm sidefoot restored the Red's two-goal lead and his late volley completed the win.

Interview: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

Interview: Portsmouth assistant boss Tony Adams

Interview: Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun

It was an impressive all-round display from Liverpool who came into the match on the back of morale-crushing defeats to Manchester United in the league and Chelsea in the Carling Cup quarter-final.

606: DEBATE Liverpool ran rings around Portsmouth LFC_w

Rafa Benitez made nine changes from the side which lost in the cup and will have been delighted with how his team began.

After Dirk Kuyt was denied by an excellent last-ditch sliding tackle from Glen Johnson, they broke the deadlock on 13 minutes.

Harry Kewell crossed from the left for Benayoun to powerfully volley first-time past David James.

The misery deepened for Pompey in somewhat comical fashion three minutes later.

Kuyt found Fernando Torres in the box, but he was tackled by Sol Campbell who could only look on aghast as the ball rebounded off Distin's shin and past James into the net.

Portsmouth had won their previous six away games, but showed little sign of that form and rarely looked like troubling the Liverpool defence in the opening half.

But they emerged with far more purpose after the break and grabbed a lifeline on 57 minutes through Benjani.

Substitute Nwankwo Kanu crossed and the Zimbabwean calmly took the ball down and rifled low into the net inside Jose Reina's near post from eight yards.

It was a fine strike, but Liverpool reacted well. They did not panic and restored their two-goal lead 10 minutes later.

Torres applied a calm sidefooted finish after keeper James was unable to get any distance on his clearance as he blocked a pass which was inadvertently deflected off Hermann Hreidarsson's boot.

And Torres put the gloss on the win, volleying inside James' near post from Steven Gerrard's header back across the area.

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Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez:
"It was a great performance from the team, especially in the first half.

"We looked good and created chances. But we got a bit nervous against a team with a very good away record.

"Torres though is always a threat. Not only that he makes room for our other players. He has a good mentality."

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp:
"We started poorly then got back to 2-1 and were back in the game. But then we gave away two terrible goals due to poor defending.

"Torres is a top striker, a fantastic player who is at another level.

"We've had a great run away from home and something to be proud of. Finishing in the top half would be progress."

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Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Benayoun (Babel 64), Gerrard, Mascherano, Kewell (Aurelio 76), Torres (Lucas 86), Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Voronin.

Booked: Arbeloa.

Goals: Benayoun 13, Distin 16 og, Torres 67, 85.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson (Lauren 46), Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka (Kanu 46), Diop, Pedro Mendes, Muntari (Taylor 73), Kranjcar, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Nugent.

Booked: Diop, Hreidarsson.

Goals: Mwaruwari 57.

Att: 43,071

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

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BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Liverpool's Fernando Torres 8.54 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

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