Liverpool 4 - 1 Portsmouth: Aquilani finds his Anfield feet as Liverpool rout Portsmouth

Published on Monday 15 March 2010 23:36

MIDFIELDER Alberto Aquilani finally found a performance to justify his £17million price tag, capping a masterful display with his first Liverpool goal in the rout of Portsmouth at Anfield last night.

The summer signing, brought in after Xabi Alonso's sale to Real Madrid, has struggled to adapt to life in England but was at the heart of everything in only his fifth Barclays Premier League start.

Fernando Torres scored twice, with Ryan Babel and Aquilani adding goals in between his strikes, before Nadir Belhadj hit a late consolation.

However, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was at the centre of controversy after appearing to thrust an arm across Portsmouth midfielder Michael Brown's face during a second-half challenge between the two players. Gerrard was substituted moments later.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson (Kelly 70), Carragher, Agger, Insua, Aquilani, Mascherano, Maxi, Gerrard (Benayoun 73), Babel, Torres (Ngog 80). Subs not used: Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Kuyt, Lucas.

Portsmouth: Ashdown, Finnan, Wilson, Rocha, Hreidarsson (Owusu-Abeyie 75), Brown, Diop (Mokoena 64), O'Hara (Webber 85), Dindane, Piquionne, Belhadj. Subs not used: O'Brien, Mullins, Hughes, Kanu. Booked: Dindane, Mokoena.

Att: 40,316. Ref: S Attwell (Warwickshire).