Weakened Liverpool hand Pompey points

AFP - 28 April 2007 18:57

Portsmouth´s Gary O´Neil(L) attempts to pass Liverpools´ Sami Hyypia during a Premiership match at Fratton Park Stadium, Portsmouth. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez´s decision to leave out captain Steven Gerrard backfired as the Champions League hopefuls slumped to their first league defeat in seven weeks, losing 2-1 away at Portsmouth.

PORTSMOUTH, England (AFP) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's decision to leave out captain Steven Gerrard backfired as the Champions League hopefuls slumped to their first league defeat in seven weeks, losing 2-1 away at Portsmouth.

Stand-in centreback Sami Hyypia's second half goal was not enough as Liverpool gave Arsenal hope of leapfrogging the Merseysiders in the chase for third place.

Benitez rested most of his first-team regulars ahead of Tuesday's must-win semi final second leg with Chelsea.

Midfielder Gerrard, goalkeeper Pepe Reina and defender Jamie Carragher were all absent from the 16-man squad while Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt was named only on the bench.

Former Boca Juniors defender Emiliano Insua made his debut while there were rare starts for Jerzy Dudek, in goal, and ex-England striker Robbie Fowler.

It took until the 25th minute for either side to muster a serious attempt on goal in the sunshine at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth midfielder Gary O'Neil got in between Gabriel Paletta and Alvaro Arbeloa before unleashing a well struck right-foot curler, which Reina's deputy Dudek tipped past a post.

Five-time European champions Liverpool found themselves behind with only 27 minutes played when Zimbabwean international striker Benjani Mwaruwari took advantage of some more hesitant defending to notch his second goal in three games.

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James's long ball was allowed to bounce by Argentinean Paletta, and Benjani lifted over the onrushing Dudek with his right foot before heading into an unguarded net.

Insua and Xabi Alonso both put speculative long-range shots into the stands as Liverpool struggled to break down their UEFA Cup-chasing opponents.

Substitute Niko Kranjcar doubled Portsmouth's lead 13 minutes before half-time when he capped a fine breakaway move with his second goal in English football.

Former Arsenal defended Lauren played in a delightful diagonal pass, which Croatian international Kranjcar, an early replacement for the injured Matthew Taylor, controlled on the chest and calmly slotted the ball past the Dudek from 10 yards.

Bolo Zenden came agonisingly close to getting Liverpool back into the game late in the first half when he hammered a 35-yard pile driver against the crossbar.

Arbeloa almost gifted Portsmouth a third early in the second half when he allowed Benjani to take the ball from his toe but the Spaniard's blushes were spared when he shot straight at Dudek.

Captain Hyypia earned Liverpool a lifeline when he headed his fourth goal of the season 14 minutes after the interval.

Fowler picked out Hyypia with a perfectly weighted left-wing corner and the Finnish defender rose above the home defence to nod past former Anfield teammate James from six yards.

Liverpool were denied an equaliser soon after when Craig Bellamy raced onto Fowler's chipped pass only for defender Linvoy Primus to slide in and block the shot.

Richard Hughes was presented with a glorious chance to score his first ever Premier League goal when he headed wide from six yards out after being picked out by Gary O'Neil's out swinging corner.

James prevented his old club snatching a point late on when he spread himself to palm away Fowler's close range shot two minutes from time after substitute Jermaine Pennant had split the Portsmouth defence with a ball over the top.

The win lifted Pompey above Reading and into seventh place, which courtesy of Manchester United and Chelsea's FA Cup final qualification would be enough to qualify for Europe for the first time in their 109-year history.