Benitez refuses to point finger

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez refused to blame goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek for the error which led to the loss of two valuable points tonight.

Benitez’s side appeared to have secured victory thanks to a thunderbolt 25-yard effort from captain Steven Gerrard in the 70th minute.

But Portsmouth grabbed a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time when Dudek palmed a cross-cum-shot from Matthew Taylor into the path of Lomana LuaLua.

He headed home to send the small travelling band of supporters wild with delight.

It was Dudek’s first league appearance since September as Chris Kirkland succumbed to injury.

Benitez, however, was more concerned about his team’s missed chances rather than Dudek’s apparent blunder.

“I think in the last minute they tried to cross, and it is unlucky play,” he said.

“The goalkeeper was waiting for a cross. It is very difficult for the goalkeeper.

“We have had many opportunities – but you need to score. Now we lose two points, but we have one more point in the table.”

Liverpool, desperate to bounce back after the derby defeat by Everton, carved out a number of chances with Dietmar Hamann and Harry Kewell both wasteful.

Yet Portsmouth’s equaliser was completely unexpected considering they had hardly been out of their half in the second period.

However, as at Newcastle at the weekend they showed remarkable spirit against the odds to secure a point.

Coach Joe Jordan said: “I am delighted – especially for the way we got the goal at the end.

“That kind of thing usually happens the other way round here, certainly in my day as a player.

“When you came here you always had to play until the final kick, the final whistle or you would get well and truly beaten.

“Liverpool are famous for that. They had got a lot of good results and decisions by playing to the end.”

Jordan conceded that Gerrard’s unstoppable effort had been the turning point in a game watched by just over 35,000 fans.

“We came out a little bit more and managed to get under Liverpool’s skin a bit,” he said.

“I will put it down as a cross that led to the goal, I don’t really know.

“All credit to the players. They have not been ruffled and focused on what has had to be done.

“They have done it in a nice way – against the odds.”