REDS HELD AT FRATTON PARK

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Liverpool have maintained their unbeaten start to the season following a goalless draw at Fratton Park on Saturday lunchtime.

Both sides had glorious chances to clinch the three points, most notably a Kanu penalty saved superbly by Pepe Reina in the first half.
  
The result means the Reds have not conceded in 388 minutes of football.
  
Liverpool went into the game with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres on the bench, while Peter Crouch got his first league start of the season against his former club.
  
It took Rafa Benitez's starting XI just four minutes to test old boy David James, who was presented with Pompey's player of the season award for 2006-07 prior to kick-off. His pride almost turned to embarrassment when Yossi Benayoun hit a surprise shot from the left-hand side of the box. Fortunately for the fervent Fratton Faithful, their man between the sticks just managed to get down in time.
  
Seven minutes later Xabi Alonso skied a 30-yard effort following some nice football from Jermaine Pennant, Yossi Benayoun and Andriy Voronin. The latter was impressive from the off.
  
It was a sublime piece of skill from the Ukrainian that set up Crouch for a half chance on the quarter-hour mark. A minute later Crouch again tested James with a low shot but the Reds were failing to make their early pressure pay.
  
Inevitably, Pompey started to get into the game. It may have taken them 24 minutes to worry Pepe Reina, but worry him they certainly did. Benjani cut inside from the right, slid his way into the box, then unleashed a fierce drive which was made even trickier to deal with thanks to a deflection from Alvaro Arbeloa. Fortunately, Reina had his wits about him.
  
He needed to be at his best once more shortly after when Arbeloa was adjudged to have pulled Kanu's shirt in the box. Mike Riley didn't see it but the linesman raised his flag and the Nigerian striker grabbed the ball ready for the spot kick.
  
Alonso's protests “ which earned him a yellow card “ delayed its taking, but Reina's save was worth waiting for “ for the travelling Kop, at least.
  
Liverpool came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half. Well you would, wouldn't you, after sharing an orange with Messrs Gerrard, Torres, Hyypia and Babel “ all itching to get on.
  
If today's fixture had been a five-a-side between the two benches, it would have been 10-0 to the visitors by now.
  
Within 35 seconds of the restart Crouch had volleyed narrowly over after a fine cross from Steve Finnan. Within the blink of an eye the big man was in the box again only to be out-muscled by Portsmouth skipper Sol Campbell.
  
Then it was Voronin's turn to threaten. Liverpool's new number 10 carved a wonderful opportunity for himself on 54 minutes but was denied by the bar.
  
Not that Pompey were simply accepting their fate. Indeed, they could and perhaps should have gone ahead when John Utaka missed with aplomb from inside the six-yard box.
  
Enter Fernando Torres, who had half an hour to seal the three points. Within half a minute his tidy footwork earned a free-kick right on the edge of the box. Yossi Benayoun claimed the ball but his curler failed to test James.
  
Nine minutes later the Spaniard had a glorious chance to open the scoring after being fed through by the Gerrard, just on for Jermaine Pennant. Sadly, Torres hit his left-footed shot well over.
  
He nearly made up for it with five minutes to go with some sterling work down the left but his cross was just a mite too strong for the in-coming Voronin.