Reds slump on the coast

Liverpool found precious little festive cheer on the South Coast in slumping to a seventh league defeat as Portsmouth claimed a 2-0 victory.

Rafa Benitez's side travelled to the Premier League's bottom club on the back of a midweek win but experienced that familiar losing feeling as goals in either half from Nadir Belhadj and Frederic Piquionne did the damage.

A miserable day for Liverpool and Benitez was exacerbated by a red card dished out to Javier Mascherano before half-time for a challenge on Tal Ben Haim.

Portsmouth were aggressive from the onset and while chances were at premium in the opening period few would begrudge their opener, a stunning angled strike from Belhadj after 33 minutes that whistled past Reina.

Liverpool's search for an equaliser was largely restricted to a deflected Steven Gerrard effort that Asir Begovic clawed off the line, before Piquionne added a sumptuous second on the volley after the break.

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