WELL, at least no-one can accuse Rafa of favouring the Champions’ League over the Premiership now.

The performance in Porto was every bit as bad as that at Portsmouth on Saturday, suggesting that the ‘A’ team would have fared little better than the alleged reserves fielded at Fratton Park.

Though presenting different challenges, both games produced displays totally out of keeping with what has gone before.

Neither David James nor Nuno were unduly troubled, though at least the latter got some exercise picking the ball out of the net from Kuyt’s header.

Our much-heralded more expansive style has foundered among a maelstrom of misplaced passes and needless fouls, belying the apparent confidence with which Derby, Sunderland and Toulouse (and almost Chelsea) have been swept aside.

Has the international break played such havoc with the players’ concentration that they’ve forgotten all that Rafa has taught them, or has the pressure of being mooted as genuine title contenders nibbled away at their fragile egos?

I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt over their collective memory exceeding that of the average goldfish, but the latter possibility raises uncomfortable issues around this team’s alleged superiority over previous models.

That said, I’d have settled for a draw at Porto before the game, so there’s not much harm done.

Despite their overwhelming statistical superiority in terms of possession, shots on goal etc, they rarely troubled Reina after the opening whirlwind, apart from when Pepe’s attempt to palm down a cross led to an unedifying scramble in the penalty area before Hyypia booted clear.

Though culpable for the penalty incident, Sami ultimately justified his selection by playing his part rebuffing the aerial bombardment from the innumerable free-kicks given away by Liverpool down the wings.

I doubt even Rafa foresaw this possibility when choosing his team, and he must have been appalled by the naivety shown by several players when challenging opponents. The continental game is fast becoming a non-contact sport, with referees increasingly seeing fouls where we see genuine physical challenge, and of course Porto are well-known for the physical frailty of their players, a passing moth being sufficient to disturb their balance and send them crashing to the floor in apparent agony.

Which brings me to Jermaine Pennant.

There’s no doubting that Pennant’s form and work-rate has improved markedly in the last few months, but he needs to realise that chasing down opponents need not entail running into their backs and trying to hook his leg through theirs to get to the ball.

His eye-popping disbelief at referees who ridiculously see this as foul play, frequently accompanied by a snarl of abuse, is becoming increasingly irritating and can only encourage more cards of various colours if he doesn’t calm down soon.

The totally pointless hack which brought about his dismissal on Tuesday betrayed a hot-headedness which has dogged his private life and he needs to show an increased maturity in the coming months if his place in the team, and indeed at the club, is not to come under threat.

The calmer presence of Benayoun may soon become an irresistible alternative to the concession of needless free-kicks in threatening position.

Mascherano and Torres also seemed determined to get booked, the former’s uncharacteristically slipshod performance creating a frustration that found its outlet in wild lunges for the ball which frequently found opponents’ legs in the way.

Arbeloa also needs to curb a tendency to try to exchange shirts during the game which is undermining his encouraging form.

These instances of indiscipline are as great a threat to our title challenge as any failure to keep possession; we need to be able to keep our composure when under pressure, even when caused by our own poor form as much as any opposition performance.

As Gerard Houllier once said, if you can’t control yourself, how can you control the game?