English Premiership/ Portsmouth 1 - Liverpool 2: Liverpool left out Steven Gerrard from their starting line-up but still managed to earn three more points in their quest for an automatic place in next season's Champions League with goals from Fernando Morientes and Luis García while Portsmouth's only response, despite a good performance, was a first-half equaliser from Diomansy Kamara.
The explanation for Gerrard's absence was that he was being rested for matches tougher in prospect than the trip to homely Fratton Park, a run down contrast to the splendour of Turin where only a week ago Liverpool had booked a semi-final place.
Liverpool were ahead in the fourth minute with John Arne Riise getting down the right to centre for Morientes to get in a shot which was again blocked by Jamie Ashdown's legs only for the former Real Madrid striker to stab in the rebound.
Morientes should have done better in the 25th minute than head over from 10 yards when a long centre from Steve Finnan found him free and that was the spark which ignited a Portsmouth reaction.
After the pacey and tricky Lomano LuaLua had been denied, Portsmouth equalised in the 33rd minute after some questionable defending. Liverpool had every player in their penalty area when Gary O'Neil took a corner on the right but there was some poor marking as Kamara forced the ball over the line.
Riise did well to get on the end of a raking pass from Xabi Alonso but, with only the goalkeeper to beat, dragged his shot wastefully across the face of the goal, but Liverpool were not to be denied.
Riise got in a perfect centre which the previously anonymous García headed into the corner from 15 yards to give Liverpool a half-time lead they only just about deserved.
García's reward for scoring just before the break was to be taken off at half-time to be replaced by Vladimir Smicer and by the time Gerrard appeared in the 68th minute Liverpool had wasted several clear chances to build on their lead.
Not that Portsmouth, roared on by their vociferous crowd, showed any signs of surrender with the prospect of relegation still a mathematical possibility.
Steve Stone should have equalised on the hour when a pass from Matthew Taylor left him unmarked six yards out but he failed to control and the opportunity disappeared.
Riise was denied by the goalkeeper in the 72nd minute while Ashdown earned a standing ovation for yet another save from Alonso.
Portsmouth introduced Patrik Berger in the 66th minute and in the 78th he let go from 30 yards with a fierce shot which stretched Jerzy Dudek into meaningful action for the first time in the half. But there was no way back for Portsmouth.
PORTSMOUTH: Ashdown, Cisse, Stefanovic, De Zeeuw (Primus 45), Taylor, Stone (Berger 66), Skopelitis, Hughes, O'Neil, Kamara, LuaLua (Fuller 76). Subs Not Used: Hislop, Rodic. Booked: Hughes. Goals: Kamara 34.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Luis Garcia (Smicer 45), Alonso, Biscan (Gerrard 67), Riise, Baros (Cisse 79), Morientes. Subs Not Used: Pellegrino, Carson. Goals: Morientes 4, Luis Garcia 45.
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
