Result - Liverpool Lose Asia Trophy To Portsmouth On Penalties

In a game that Liverpool should have won hands down in 90 minutes, Portsmouth walk away with the Barclay’s Asia Trophy after beating Liverpool 4-2 on penalties. It wasn’t going to be a day for Fernando Torres, having only received international clearance minutes before kick off, the Spaniard was denied a goal attempt in second half but fluffed his penalty, Liverpool’s third, which levelled out the playing field.

The chances were there but David James was in top form during the 90 minutes and denied Liverpool whenever he could, other chances just came to close shaves - Pennant, Alonso, Sissoko, Kuyt, Babel and Torres.

Lua Lua cracked one off the post for Portsmouth in the second half, Torres had his chances too, forcing James to tip over the bar, having another shot chipped wide, really piling on the pressure. No matter how much they piled on though it couldn’t be done.

So, the game turned to penalties, things looking in Liverpool’s favour from the get go when John Utaka missed Pompey’s first penalty. Gerrard and Kuyt converted Liverpool’s first and second but misses from Torres and Benayoun, both second half subs, proved costly and handed Portsmouth the silverware when Hreidarsson and Kranjaer both scored to leave Pompey 4-2 winners on the night.

End of a 100% record for Liverpool’s preseason but still good things to draw from today despite the lack of goals.

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