Supposedly on a high after the 6-0 rout over Derby County, Liverpool travelled down to Fratton Park to further test their title challenge. Talk of serious announcement as genuine title contenders was rife in the press and Rafa Benitez seemed to have used this carrot to motivate his players.

Portsmouth aren’t the most glamorous of species in the Premier League but they have been an integral part of the top flight for the last few years and offer another type of challenge to high-flying teams.

At the end of 90 minutes, Liverpool had been overtaken by high-flying Arsenal, who look as good as any of the other title challengers.

'In a scoreless draw which could have gone either way, Reina made himself look big and his job easy'

Benitez put Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres on the bench, and changed five players from the side which beat Derby. The boss wanted fresh legs and hunger over experience and flair. Liverpool were on top for the first 20 minutes but then came another dubious penalty award against them. A high-flying side, scoring 11 goals in five matches, conceding three penalties with none awarded defies logic, but it seems common sense is not so common nowadays. Or else we are going through a phase of challenging Isaac Newton’s theories. Anyway, Pepe Reina saved Kanu’s shot from the spot.

In a scoreless draw which could have gone either way, the Spaniard made himself look big and his job easy. He is yet to be beaten from open play this season, and yesterday he commanded his area admirably and was my Man of the Match.

Gerrard and Torres entered midway through the second half and their class could have stole it for the Reds but the Spaniard was high and wide after a sublime pass by Gerrard.