This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.
Liverpool found precious little festive cheer on the South Coast in slumping to a seventh league defeat as Portsmouth claimed a 2-0 victory.
Rafa Benitez's side travelled to the Premier League's bottom club on the back of a midweek win but experienced that familiar losing feeling as goals in either half from Nadir Belhadj and Frederic Piquionne did the damage.
A miserable day for Liverpool and Benitez was exacerbated by a red card dished out to Javier Mascherano before half-time for a challenge on Tal Ben Haim.
Portsmouth were aggressive from the onset and while chances were at premium in the opening period few would begrudge their opener, a stunning angled strike from Belhadj after 33 minutes that whistled past Reina.
Liverpool's search for an equaliser was largely restricted to a deflected Steven Gerrard effort that Asir Begovic clawed off the line, before Piquionne added a sumptuous second on the volley after the break.
This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the views or position of Liverpool Football Club.
This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.
Tagged: fratton park , pompey , portsmouth