Preview: Portsmouth v Reds

Liverpool travel to the South Coast to take on Portsmouth today with the Reds aiming to record back-to-back victories in the Barclays Premier League.

Rafa Benitez's side returned to winning ways courtesy of a 2-1 success over Wigan Athletic at Anfield on Wednesday - and now the Spaniard's charges are determined to kick-off the festive period with another three points.

Liverpool enjoy a decent record at Fratton Park, but were made to work hard for the win they collected away to Pompey last term.

After a goalless first-half, the game sprung into life after the interval with Portsmouth twice taking the lead before Fernando Torres settled matters with a stoppage-time header to secure a 3-2 win.

Earlier in 2008-09, the Reds required a Steven Gerrard penalty to ensure they collected the three points in a tense 1-0 win at Anfield.

Portsmouth's last victory over Liverpool came in May 2007 - though it's their only win in the last six meetings between the two teams at Fratton Park.

The opposition

Portsmouth head into today's encounter rooted to the base of the Barclays Premier League - five points off 17^th placed Bolton Wanderers.

However, the appointment of Avram Grant as Pompey boss last month has seen a marked improvement in the form of the South Coast outfit.

They've since collected four points from their last three league outings and put on an encouraging display against Chelsea in a narrow 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge last time out.

Grant, though, acknowledges his side will be in for a tough afternoon against a Liverpool side buoyed by the midweek win over Wigan.

"I don't know when is a good time to play Liverpool," he said. "Before the game against Wigan, people were saying that Liverpool were not in good shape but they won 2-1.

"Liverpool are always dangerous. They are a good team and this is a big game for us. Even though they are not second or third place, they are still a good team.

"I think Steven Gerrard is an unbelievable player and Fernando Torres is a top, top striker but they have more good players.

"For example, Benayoun is having a very good season and they have a lot of other good players."

He added: "Liverpool deserve to be in the top four - they are a very good team. There is never a good time to play a big team."

The danger man

Aruna Dindane arrived at Fratton Park on a season-long loan deal from Lens in the summer - and the forward has wasted no time in firing his way to the title of Portsmouth's joint top goalscorer so far this season.

The Ivorian has five goals to his name - four of which have come in the Barclays Premier League - putting him level with fellow striker Frederic Piquionne.

The 29-year-old fired a hat-trick in a 4-0 romp against Wigan in October, before netting a crucial goal in the win over Burnley earlier this month.

Dindane is highly experienced at international level and starred for the Ivory Coast at the 2006 World Cup finals, where he scored twice.

Portsmouth fact file

Portsmouth were formed in 1898.

They're nicknamed Pompey, although their original moniker was the 'shrimps' due to their old salmon pink strip.

Portsmouth's home ground is Fratton Park, which has a capacity of 20,224.

Pompey have won two FA Cups - most recently in 2008. They've also won two league titles - in 1949 and 1950.

Kop legend Ian St John managed the club between September 1974 and May 1977.

Players to have represented both Liverpool and Portsmouth during the Premier League era include Glen Johnson, Steve Finnan, David James, Patrik Berger, Djimi Traore, Sander Westerveld, Peter Crouch, David Thompson and Salif Diao.

Match stats
By Ged Rea

Jamie Carragher could become only the ninth player in the club's history to play 600 games for Liverpool. The next player in his sights is Alan Hansen who appeared 620 times in a Liverpool shirt.

A victory will give Liverpool 400 points won in the Premier League under Rafa Benitez.

A draw would be the 50th under Rafa in league games.

Fernando Torres needs one goal in next 10 games to reach 50 in league faster than any other player in Liverpool's history.

There has only ever been one goalless draw between the sides at Fratton Park. That came two seasons ago when Pepe Reina saved a Kanu penalty.

Liverpool's biggest victories at Fratton Park came in 1950-51, 1951-52 and 2005-06 when they won 3-1.

The Reds have failed to score in only two of their last 15 visits.

They have lost just one of the last 11 league meetings home and away and only two of the last 16.

Liverpool are looking to record a fourth successive away clean sheet in all competitions for the first time since August 2008 while a shut out today would their third in a row on their league travels for the first time since September 2008.

This season, Portsmouth made their worst start in 89 years of league football. It was the worst by any team in Premier League history and the worst in the top-flight since Manchester United in 1930.