‘Desperate’ Crouch gets Benitez backing

Liverpool 3 Portsmouth 0

Seconds earlier he had turned to his family in the crowd and raised both arms high in a ‘what more can I do?’ gesture of deep frustration.

He had a point. Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown had saved a penalty from the £7million man and then produced a string of outstanding blocks to deny Crouch his first goal for Liverpool, and his first since May 7, when he last found the net for Southampton at Crystal Palace.

Since then he has been scoreless in 15 games for Liverpool and four with England. The pressure is mounting but at least he knows Liverpool’s support has closed ranks around one of their own in the face of derision from all quarters.

They can see the desire, effort and refusal to wilt and are trying desperately to haul him through the toughest spell of his career.

And they witnessed arguably Crouch’s best all-round display in a Liverpool shirt where with a touch more luck he would have had a hat-trick.

Boss Rafael Benitez said: “He knows that the supporters are with him, he will continue working and trying. The problem will be if he starts saying ‘it’s difficult’ or ‘it’s impossible’ and then stops working hard.

“If he continues playing like this then it is okay by me, I do not worry while he is playing as well as this. It is only important to continue winning and playing well. And we are doing that.”

Four straight victories have set up Liverpool for Wednesday’s Champions League clash at home to Real Betis when a draw will take them into the last 16.

Liverpool have improved considerably from a month ago, now all they want is for Crouch to add goals to his ceaseless effort.

The first-half penalty should have been a godsend for Crouch. But Ashdown saved and Boudewijn Zenden - not Crouch - headed in the rebound. Further goals from Djibril Cisse and Fernando Morientes completed a one-sided victory.

Crouch said: “I made the decision to take the penalty. I am so desperate to score I will take any chance I can that comes along. I am certainly not going to hide. I picked up the ball and felt confident. But it was a fine save and I was just happy Bolo was there to finish it off.

“Maybe the lads won’t let me take another one now but I will always be confident and always want the opportunity.

“I wanted it, and I have taken a few before and put it in that corner, but this time I changed my mind at the last minute over what I was going to do. But I have contributed to a good win and that is what is most important, but obviously I am desperate to score at the moment.”

The backing from Benitez is solid. “It is a shame because he played really well. If he gets one he will get a lot more, he is still playing with confidence. It is a pity that this keeps going on because everything else he does is fine, and he is doing all I ask of him.

“He had good movement, he did a lot of excellent work for the team in the air and on the ground. But I hope to soon see the first goal for him and we will then see a more relaxed, more confident player.

For under-pressure Pompey boss Alain Perrin, the words from within the Fratton Park boardroom are not quite as supportive.

Owner Milan Mandaric talked of “opening a bottle of Chardonnay and considering the future”. It was hardly a ringing endorsement.

Worryingly for Portsmouth, their next game is at home to Chelsea.

Opta Fact: Liverpool have kept eight clean sheets in 11 league games this season.