Yesterday, Liverpool welcomed Portsmouth at Anfield, and returned to winning ways after two sour setbacks in the space of a week. Portsmouth arrived at Anfield billed as the best away side, having achieved six wins and one draw from nine of their travels. Such a record was better than Liverpool’s home one so far this season, and it implied a worrying state of affairs for the red men, in a game and situation that only a victory was acceptable. The worry though proved unfounded as much as the rumour of Harry Redknapp managing the England circus, when as early as the sixteenth minute when Benayoun and an own goal by Sylvian Distin gave Liverpool a two nil lead. The only surprise till then was not the way Liverpool ridiculed such statistic but how Fernando Torres was not yet on the score-sheet.

Torres just created havoc every time he got the ball, like a wolf amongst a flock of sheep. For the first goal, he latched on a Harry Kewell pass by the bye-line, outran Sol Campbell and then turned him over in the penalty area. A tackle robbed him off the ball but Kewell picked on the loose ball to cross over to Yossi Benayoun in the middle of the penalty area to coolly volley in. The latter is proving to be another astute signing, and as a direct replacement of Luis Garcia he now surely deserves a catchy ditty as he has been weighing in with his fair share of goals, this being his sixth of the campaign.

Later, an interception by Javier Mascherano had Dirk Kuyt making ground effortlessly in Portsmouth’s area and altruistically as always let the ball to Torres who was surrounded by two defenders. Campbell did actually stop the kid from his tracks, only though for his clearance to ricochet off the onrushing Distin which got past the wrong-footed David James. A bit of owed up luck did finally get Liverpool’s way.

With a two goal cushion, Liverpool rather switched off and just shepherded Portsmouth along the pitch without breaking much sweat. The sheep looked rather subdued, with hardly any baa getting heard. IN the start of the second half, they rather changed and Benjani gave them hope and Liverpool’s comfortable cushion was getting to feel itchy.

It didn’t last too long though, as Torres finally got into the score-sheet, twice. A forward Mascherano pass towards Ryan Babel had James panicly get out of his line, the Spaniard coolly collected the clearance and deposited into the net. Towards the end, the captain headed down a Jamie Carragher long ball at Torres path and once again, he just finished beyond James.

Such a goal earned the Spaniard a substitution and a standing ovation from the Kop and the rest. Derby County at Pride Park now awaits. Without trying to tempt fate, just a fistful on Boxing Day should ensure Liverpool the pride of three away points.