PORTSMOUTH, England (AFP) - – Liverpool manager Rafael
Benitez insisted he does not fear the sack despite seeing his team
suffer their seventh Premier League defeat of an increasingly poor
season at bottom club Portsmouth.
Midfielder Javier Mascherano was sent-off for the third time in
his Liverpool career as the visitors' fading title hopes were all
but extinguished in a 2-0 loss at Fratton Park.
The sorry Reds have now won just four of their last 12 league
games and are struggling even to secure a top four finish and a
place in next season's Champions League.
When asked if he was worried for his job, Benitez replied: "I am
only worried about the next game (against Wolves).
"I can only prepare for the next match. If we can win hopefully
it will be easier to prepare for the next ones," the Spaniard
added.
"We have to change our targets and can only think about one game
at a time. We have to stick together and try to pick up three
points and see what happens."
Liverpool were already trailing to Nadir Belhadj's first goal
since December 26 last year when Mascherano was dismissed on the
stroke of half-time.
The Argentina midfielder was shown a straight red card by
referee Lee Mason as punishment for a reckless lunge on Portsmouth
defender Tal Ben Haim on the half-way line.
Belhadj scored his first goal since December 26 last
year
Benitez was clearly angered by the decision and reserved
some sarcastic comments for Mason at his post-match news
conference.
"We were the better team in the first half and the sending-off
changed the game," he said.
"I have seen a replay and for me it was not a sending-off but
the referee was perfect. He did not make any mistakes. He was
correct to not give fouls against Fernando Torres. He was
perfect."
Benitez added: "We had plenty of possession and were in control
but it is difficult playing with ten men away from home when you
are 1-0 behind.
"We had to keep trying to go forward but we left some spaces and
there was always a danger we would concede another goal."
Portsmouth had taken just 11 points from 17 games prior to his
match and the south coast club remain beset by financial
problems.
Liverpool had the better of the opening exchanges, with stars
Steven Gerrard and Torres posing a constant threat.
Torres came within inches of putting Liverpool in front with a
majestic 20-yard curler, which had Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir
Begovic beaten before nestling on the roof of the net.
Despite Liverpool having plenty of possession Begovic,
deputising for the injured David James, did not have a meaningful
save to make before Belhadj opened the scoring in the 33rd
minute.
Kevin-Prince Boateng's driven low shot was palmed away by Pepe
Reina but Liverpool failed to clear the rebound and the ball broke
kindly for Belhadj, who lashed an unstoppable right foot shot into
the roof of the net from an acute angle.
Daniel Agger put a free header wide moments later while Begovic
produced a brilliant reaction save to keep out Gerrard's defected
second half shot.
France striker Frederic Piquionne sealed the points eight
minutes from time, brilliantly flicking up Boateng's cross before
firing past Reina at the near post.
Victory saw Portsmouth boss Avram Grant maintain his record of
never having lost to Liverpool as a manager.
"It is true I have never lost to Benitez and I am pleased to
keep that run going," said former Chelsea manager Grant.
"This is a terrific win for us and hopefully it can kick-start
our season."
