Bill Shankly used to call the league our bread and butter. So that probably makes European football as caviar. And I don’t need to say much about the relationship between Liverpool and European football, as there is not much which hasn’t already been said. This season though, the main focus has been on the league title. After two finals in the Champions League but no serious challenge to the title, the European talk has been put rather aside. And if anything, there seemed to be a serious lack of focus by the mighty reds especially in the first sixteen minutes.

A penalty conceded is now getting a routine, as much as a story by a Liverpudlian on a European night in a way. What was unfamiliar though, is that there can be no complaints about it. This time rather than baffling, it was clear and one of the easiest decisions Mr Lubos Michel had to take. This was no Luis Garcia shot in a semi-final at Anfield which a certain manager is still raising qualms about. The Porto lad outpaced Sami Hyypia, Pepe Reina rushed off his line, got rounded by his opponent and rather than the ball, Pepe got his legs. And then a certain Gonzalez just hit the ball from the penalty spot and opened the score for Porto.

Till then Liverpool were all over the place. The 1-0 score line did not flatter Porto by any way. It was the least they deserved. But on the seventeenth minute, Liverpool showed their European credentials. Fernando Torres won a free-kick, a couple of metres away from the half-way line. Steve Finnan took charge, swung a deep cross, the veteran Finn Sami Hyypia connected with and Dirk Kuyt then directed into the net to level the score.

Porto in some ways looked like Liverpool do a lot of times. A lot of possession, a lot of corners, a lot of attempts but still not enough for an important win. What was different, was a lot of showboating and very good wingers. Last night Liverpool were just efficient and got away with a creditable draw which was even more commendable after Jermaine Pennant’s red card. The lad has been quite on form so far, but the yellow cards have been as constant. His red card was as expected as much as Porto’s first goal. Hopefully the lad will learn from it.

Fabio Aurelio made his comeback after some six months on the sidelines after a terrible injury at Eindhoven. The recoveries seem to be getting on track, and after a draw at Fratton Park, a home tie against Birmingham City should only serve for Liverpool to get back on the winning track.