Eyebrows were raised when Benitez picked Dossena ahead of Benayoun and Babel of Liverpool’s left, and after thirty scrappy minutes where the Reds failed to control the game Nadir Belhadj thrashed home a stunning volley into Reina’s near post as Pompey moved ahead. Then came the big talking point as Javier Mascherano clattered into Ben Haim under the nose of ref Mason who whipped out a controversial red card to give the Argentine Christmas off. Liverpool threatened to fall apart after the break, Fernando Torres lucky to escape an early bath after elbowing Ben Haim in a challenge, and ten minutes from time Pompey wrapped up the points when Yebda was allowed to whip in a cross from the right and Frederic Piquionne beat Carragher to the ball before firing a volley across Riena in the far post.