Liverpool 0, Portsmouth 0 (Portsmouth won 4-2 on pens)

Jul 28 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ didn’t need to go halfway around the world for a reminder of Liverpool’s old shortcomings yesterday.

The failings that undermined their Premier League campaign remain prevalent if the evidence of the Barclays Asia Trophy final against Portsmouth is an accurate barometer of the work in progress.

Benitez won’t lose any sleep over the rare penalty shoot-out defeat in which former Anfield goalkeeper David James saved twice to earn Pompey the silverware in Hong Kong after a goalless draw.

The concern instead is that, with a little over a fortnight until they kick their league season off at Aston Villa , Liverpool produced a display that was a microcosm of what had transpired throughout the previous 12 months.

Certainly, anyone present while Liverpool practised their crossing and finishing at their training session on Thursday night won’t have been overly surprised by the wayward nature of the shooting on display in the overpowering heat and humidity yesterday.

And even when they did find their range, the heroics of James – by far the player of the tournament over the past week – ensured the Hong Kong public who almost universally came out to support the Anfield men were to be disappointed.

Until now, the goals had been flying in with 14 scored in Liverpool ’s previous five warm-up games, all of which were won.

However, yesterday’s final against Portsmouth offered a chance to gauge the level of their improvement against fellow Premier League opposition.

Optimism will no doubt be dampened as a result, although with a less than full-strength Liverpool having dominated possession and delivered a committed attacking performance that penned Pompey back for much of the game, there’s no need for any panic.

But of immediate concern will be new forwards Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel. Of course, it’s far too early to pass any sort of judgement on the pair, but they are clearly some way behind their team-mates in their preparations.

Despite widespread belief the issue had already been rectified, Torres didn’t receive his international clearance to play yesterday until five minutes before kick-off, and began the game on the bench.

The £18million record signing finally emerged during the second half to raucous cheers from the inflatable-wielding Hong Kong crowd surpassed only by the reception for skipper Steven Gerrard’s late run-out.

There were some glimpses of what Liverpool will hope to expect from Torres, most notably when his persistence in harassing Sol Campbell forced James into a smart save and a clever pass put Yossi Benayoun clear only for the Israeli to wrongly be adjudged offside.

But the Spanish striker’s evening was perhaps best summed up when his spot-kick in the shoot-out was stopped by James, the keeper also saving from Benayoun to allow Nico Kranjcar the honour of converting Portsmouth ’s winning penalty.

Torres has had only 110 minutes of game time since arriving at Anfield while Babel has been on the pitch only fractionally longer, and was anonymous during his hour in which he started up front then moved on to the right wing.

However, Kuyt, who understands the pressure of being a big-money forward signing at Liverpool and partnered Babel and then Torres in attack yesterday, believes both have the quality to come good.

“I think you could see they have plenty of quality and skill,” said the Dutch striker. “The pair of them are very fast and they both have great futures here.

“Ryan can play up front or on the wings, so there are lots of positions for him and Fernando is just a top striker.

“The expectations to do well at Liverpool are always really, really high. That’s easy to say, but the English league is one of the toughest in the world.”

Kuyt added: “I still think we showed some good teamwork and that will only get better – it will come. It’s only the second match with Fernando and Ryan but you can already see the quality.

The only thing I would say is that we need to finish the chances but I am sure it’ll come. Maybe in two weeks.

“I think Ryan is one of the most talented players in Holland at the moment and has already played a lot of games not only for Ajax , but the national team too and he’s only 21.

“I think he will be a really good player for Liverpool and in time you will see the true player.”

Kuyt came closest to breaking the deadlock for Liverpool , denied three times by James the most spectacular save of which was in the 34th minute when repelling the Dutchman’s header with his feet after a Jermaine Pennant cross.

Earlier, Kuyt had volleyed over and seen an angled drive saved, as both Pennant and a revitalised Harry Kewell continued their lively form on either flank.

After Momo Sissoko came in for a curiously hard time from large sections of the crowd during the 3-1 win over South China on Tuesday, there was a contrite feeling towards the Malian inside the stadium yesterday with banners dotted around the ground urging fans to “Support Momo Sissoko”.

It seemed to do the trick as the midfielder, again paired with the effortlessly elegant Xabi Alonso, bounded around the pitch with a renewed sense of adventure.

One barnstorming run into the area immediately after the interval led to faint shouts for a penalty after Sissoko went to ground with Sylvain Distin in close attendance, and the Malian later turned provider with a ball over the top that Pennant reached before James but horribly miscued his attempted lob.

Torres demonstrated an encouraging eye for goal midway through the second half when he picked off a loose ball outside the area, slipped away from Distin and hit a powerful shot that was touched over by James.

Portsmouth only threatened twice during the 90 minutes, Pepe Reina coming out to save from Gary O’Neill after Sulley Muntari had found a gaping hole in the Liverpool defence and Lomana Lua Lua striking the outside of the post with a cheeky near-post effort.

Muntari was later booked for a rash challenge on Steve Finnan, before James again denied Kuyt from a Torres pass to ensure a penalty shoot-out from which, after John Utaka had placed Portsmouth’s first penalty well wide, the goalkeeper would prove the difference.

Liverpool now have a fortnight to ensure their profligacy does not prove similarly decisive when the Premier League campaign starts at Villa Park.