Liverpool traveled all the way down to Portsmouth today in search of a second win on the trot. Although winning in midweek, the reds still needed to improve their form. And it was hoped the men in red were to build on that against a Portsmouth team that currently foots the Premier League.
Sadly, it wasn’t to be. The Liverpool team put on a performance that speaks volumes of how Liverpools season seems to be panning out. The football was lacking quality. And the already fragile confidence drained as the match went on.
Things were made worse when Mascherano was given a straight red card for a high challenge that was deemed dangerous by the referee, late in the second half. Sometimes when a team goes down to ten men there can be an added boost of grit and determination. But the reds trailed away from the game like a loose cannon and the players heads were down.
Nadir Belhadj took the lead for Portsmouth in the 33rd minute. A poor attempt to clear the ball by Johnson gave the Portsmouth player an opportunity to have a shot shot on target from an acute angle. He blasted the ball with so much venom that Pepe Reina could only stand stunned at his near post.
Portsmouth increased their lead in the second half when Frederic Piquionne volleyed the ball home on 88 minutes.
Although Liverpool had some good possession in the game, as always, you have to make it count. And once again, there was a lack of drive or real creativity from the reds attack.
Steven Gerrard went close late in the second half to get a consolation goal, but his effort went round the wrong side of the post. It would have been too little, too late though.
If Liverpool have any intentions climbing up the league table into the top four, they must improve the football drastically. Because bad performances like todays, will only leave them sliding down the league table. Huge improvement is needed.