Benitez backs boo-boy Pennant

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has given his backing to troubled winger Jermaine Pennant after the £6.7m (€9.9m) summer buy was booed by the Kop when he was substituted in Wednesday night’s 0-0 home draw with Portsmouth.

Pennant has been stuck in a spell of wretched form of late and has still to score for his new club.