New signing Glen Johnson was eager to please for entirely different reasons. Having become the most expensive defender in Liverpool’s history last month the England man knows he has a lot to prove if he is to live up to the £16m fee that Benitez shelled out on him.

Having operated mainly in an unfamiliar left back berth during the early stages of pre-season training, Johnson was tasked with carry out the same role in the second 45 minutes of last night’s game and did well enough despite his positional change.

The former Pompey man was one of eleven Liverpool substitutions at half-time as Benitez carried out his pledge to change his entire team at the interval.

Having seen his first half team struggle to carve out any openings of particular note apart from a close range Krisztian Nemeth effort that was easily foiled by St Gallen keeper Reto Bolli, the Liverpool manager will have been pleased to see his substitute eleven look to push forward at every opportunity.

Johnson could and perhaps should have opened the scoring following a neat one two with David Ngog but disappointment at the way his volley was steered wide of the target will have been tempered by the fact that the full back had illustrated his trademark ability to get into advanced positions.

Yossi Benayoun was next to try his luck following some inventive build up play involving Stephen Darby and Dani Pacheco but the Israeli’s goal bound effort was tipped over by Bolli.

As the half wore on, the home fans demanded more from their team – who started their Swiss league campaign last week – but with Liverpool increasingly dominating possession it seemed that their thirst to take the notable scalp of the five time European champions would go unquenched.

St Gallen continued to try and hit their visitors on the break only for their efforts to be continually thwarted by the two Martins – Skrtel and Kelly – with the more junior member of Liverpool’s central defensive duo making the most of his promotion from the reserves with an assured and commanding display.

Kelly’s fellow second string regulars Pacheco and Ngog both had opportunities to put themselves in the limelight but the former was let down by a lack of poise when a clear shooting opportunity arose and the latter suffered from a radar malfunction when presented with the most free of headers.

Such profligacy could have proven costly had the unmarked Mario Frick not headed wide with just minutes remaining but the concession of a late goal would have been harsh on Liverpool who had shown more than enough endeavour and spirit to deserve a draw at the very least.