Live: Portsmouth 2 Liverpool 0

94 That's your lot folks. Liverpool have that losing feeling again as they slump to a seventh league defeat against the Premier League's bottom club. Pompey were excellent all afternoon and deserving of a three points that puts them back in contention. All hail Avram Grant and many thanks for all your many emails.

93 A nice passage of play from Portsmouth takes the sting out of another Liverpool attack. Who'd bet against Avram Grant saving Pompey from the drop if they can get things right off the field?

92 Piquionne, another who has given absolutely everything, is replaced for Kanu and is given a deserved standing ovation.

Richard Neal from the good old USA has been in touch to ask if we can clone Xabi Alonso. Unfortunately, my suffering friend, you're stuck with Lucas. On the field, Liverpool have given up it seems.

90 That's 90 minutes on the board but there is a groan from the crowd as the fourth official indicates there will be four added minutes.

89 Boateng - who had a fine game - is replaced for Hayden Mullins.

88 Finnan clears against his old club as Johnson threatens to bulldoze his way through. Moments later a brilliant touch from Gerrard makes space but his angled drive is a fraction wide.

87 Liverpool are preparing Jay Spearing to come on but it's very much too little, too little for Benitez. Lucas comes off.

85 The impressive Michael Brown gets in a fine challenge to put out a Liverpool fire, with Kuyt poised to strike from the edge of the box.

83 Well you can't say Portsmouth haven't deserved it. Other than Begovic's brilliant save to deny Gerrard, Liverpool have offered nothing. All but for a miracle, Liverpool are heading for a seventh league defeat of the season.

The ball was whipped in from the left flank and after flicking the ball past Carragher he hit the sweetest of angled volleys beyond Reina. A really fine goal from the beguiling striker.

81 GOAL for PORTSMOUTH!!!! Another brilliant goal, this time on the volley from Piquionne.

79 Well it's a massive ten minutes for Liverpool's season and dare I say it, Rafa Benitez's future as the club's manager. The defending is becoming ever more desperate as the tension becomes more tangible with every passing second.

78 Carragher attempted to cap his 600th appearance with a wonder goal on the volley. Let's just say he's a very good defender....

77 It's all Liverpool in the last few minutes as Benitez's side start to go a little longer. Torres has come to life in winning a couple of corners for the away side.

75 A number of players are starting to change their boots as Torres raises the temperature with an excellent run that is thwarted at the last by a desperate Pompey challenge.

74 A glorious chance goes begging for Portsmouth as Piquionne gets his header all wrong when unmarked no more than eight or so yards out. The ball came off his shoulder and limped wide. Big, big moment in the game.

Conor has been on to remind me he predicted 1-0 Portmouth at the start. He did indeed, although not heard from those that predicted 4-0 or 5-0 to Liverpool.

72 Boateng, bright and inventive, has shown some nice touches this afternoon and he's just won a throw deep into Liverpool's half. The sun is out but the pitch still rock solid here.

70 It's a scrappy passage of play here as Brown and then Ben Haim launch the ball out of play in quick succession. They are not holding on desperately by any stretch of the imagination but you'd have to think Liverpool pressure is on the horizon.

68 Benayoun twists and turns inside Portsmouth's box but eventually Ben Haim is able to get in a vital interception. At the other end, O'Hara shifted his feet quickly after shielding the ball on the edge of the box, before lashing a yard or so wide. It's heating up here.

67 Insua is replaced for Aurelio. The resulting corner from Gerrard's effort is easily cleared by Pompey's backline.

66 Brilliant reaction save from Begovic denies a twice deflected Gerrard strike from the edge of the box. Wonderful goalkeeping by the Pompey man.

64 Torres leaves Ben Haim in a heap after accidently leading with his arm when challenging for a long ball. There's a bit of a break but your emails keep on coming. Miha Jurgec from Maribor, Slovenia, predicts a long, dark winter for Benitez. He's another United fan...

64 Insua loses the ball cheaply down Portsmouth's right flank. A rapid counter-attack sees the home side work the ball well only for Boateng to concede a free-kick for a push on the Spanish full-back.

62 O'Hara has been bright and busy this afternoon but his deliveries have not always been the best as Liverpool clear.

60 The resulting setpiece lacks precision but Boateng, who has come on a lot since his moody years at Spurs, wins another corner off Carragher through his sheer work-rate.

59 Johnson is BOOKED after being robbed of the ball by O'Hara on the touchline. Poor defending by the Liverpool man.

58 There's a great atmosphere inside Fratton Park as the Pompey faithful start to believe a massive three points is not beyond them. After a slow opening to the half they've started to grow in confidence and use the ball more economically.

57 Kaboul gets in behind a ponderous Agger, who has been poor all afternoon, but his shot on the stretch is way over the top of Reina's bar.

55 Fernando Torres BOOKED. The Spaniard is getting increasingly frustrated and is shown a yellow card for a trip on Brown. Gerrard has a quiet word.

54 A great challenge from Carragher is needed to thwart Piquionne after the striker was played in by Boateng's clever reverse ball.

52 Gerrard floats in a clever ball beyond Portsmouth's backline but Torres is a yard or so off-side. Just had a quck look at my emails and the Rafa out campaign appears to be gathering pace.

51 Benayoun comes on for Dossena. Can't understand why Liverpool have elected to leave one of their more creative players on the bench given they've started with one just up front. Positive change though.

50 Dossena has a hopeful shot from the edge of the box that takes a deflection which slows the ball down through to Begovic. It's the 50th minute and Liverpool's first shot on target has just been registered.

48 It's Portsmouth who look the more nervous of the two sides in the opening sparring of the second half. A couple of times they've hurried the final ball when in dangerous situations. Benayoun has been giving the nod from Liverpool's bench.

47 Johnson urges his side forward with some persistent play down the right but is unable to keep the ball in play as Portsmouth clear up field.

"In Rafa we trust" .... Bye Bye 4th Place - Spurs can have it !! From Cookie + Johnno

46 BOOKING for Lucas. The Brazilian leaves his foot in on Ben Haim. Clearly the Pompey stopper is not a favourite in the Liverpool dressing room.

46 Liverpool get the second half underway.

Colin Lodge and John Ritchie are Reds united as well. They are both gutted about Liverpool's current plight and worried about the control Rafa has at Anfield.

Mads Jakobsen and Billie Marshall are united in thinking it was a harsh red card. Personally, while a tight call, I'd argue Lee Mason got it right. The red mist had clearly blurred Mascherano's thinking and it's fortunate we're not all talking about a serious injury.

From Matthew Stowe: "Could you let Rafa know that the Pompey News has a job section on a Saturday?" Ryan Cachia from Malta says: "Smiles on a Pompey Fan's Face...Seems like Pompey have now opened a new chapter in their book called "The Great Escape'."

A word from our friends at Sky Bet: Liverpool down to men so pompy have the chance to register a vital victory and are 5/8 to do so. That said Torres and Kuyt are still well supported for the next goal. 5/8 Pompey, 21/10 draw, 4/1 Liverpool

Colin, the smuggest of Man United fans in Miami, has emailed in to answer my question about what Rafa should be saying to his players: ADIOS

Jonas Lebowski has his head in his hands: "Every time I think this season can't get more horrible it gets more horrible. I'm looking forward to the 2010/2011 season!"

45 It's half-time here at Fratton Park as Portsmouth head into the interval with a lead and numerical advantage. I'll be looking over your emails at half-time and will try to publish a few. What should Rafa be saying to his players and will Portsmouth be composed enough to keep hold of their lead? Email alex.dunn@bskyb.com

45 Yebda is BOOKED for a wild, stupid and reckless challenge on Dirk Kuyt.

45 It's a minute or so into added time here with Portsmouth fans in fine voice. 'Sacked in the morning' is their favourite ditty to date.

It's an absolute disaster here for Liverpool. A lengthy delay ensued but when he clambered to his feet referee Lee Mason was quick to brandish a red card. It was a poor challenge and fortunate that Ben Haim escaped without serious injury.

44 He's off!!! Mascherano has been sent off after finally hobbling to his feet.

Gerrard appears to be saying Mascherano has been sent-off. He certainly doesn't like he'll be continuing. I'll update asap.

42 Reckless challenge from Mascherano leaves Ben Haim crumbled in a heap. Both players are currently receiving treatment. Not the best of tackles at all...

40 Not much of a response from Liverpool to going behind. In fact, it's Portsmouth that are playing the brighter football. They certainly look the more confident of the two sides.

38 A little stat: This is the seventh time this season Liverpool have fallen behind. From the previous six they have gone on to lose five.

37 Dossena is talking his way into trouble but escapes with a ticking off as Liverpool frustration boils over. From a Gerrard free-kick, after Brown had been penalised, Agger has just missed a sitter in heading over the top when free from six yards.

35 What was I saying about a lull? That's put the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons here. Belhadj has had a bright game down the left for Pompey and it was certainly a confident finish. Not the best defending from Liverpool though.

It was a magnificent angled effort from the diminutive wide man. Reina did brilliantly to parry Boateng's snapshot but from Johnson's weak header Belhadj thrashed the ball past Liverpool's goalkeeper.

33 GOAL!!! Emphatic finish from Belhadj puts PORTSMOUTH into the lead!!!

31 There's been a bit of a lull here, it's all very scrappy. You can excuse Portsmouth - they're battling for everthing - but Liverpool look desperately shy of confidence.

29 Carragher has to get his head in the way of Yebda's snapshot after some woeful Agger defending. The Pompey man's strike was certainly travelling as Carragher threw himself at the ball. Reina caught the resulting corner cleanly.

28 On the counter-attack Gerrard wins a corner off Finnan, but it's too deep as Agger heads wide. At the other end, Carragher has to hook the ball clear, on his 600th appearance, as Reina is hesitant in Liverpool's goal.

26 Liverpool clear the setpiece but Portsmouth are starting to really settle and zip the ball around. It's important for Livepool to absorb this passage of pressure if they are to regain the foothold they established early on.

25 The Pompey fans are in good voice as Agger has to put the ball behind to prevent Piquionne from reaching Belhadj's drifting cross from the left flank. Nice move from the home side.

24 O'Hara swings in a free-kick that is likely a mishit cross but has Reina back peddling as he catches on his line.

22 Gerrard sticks in a devilish ball from the left but on the stretch, Torres just can't reach it. A moment or so later Ben Haim gives him a gentle shove that momentarily shakes him up.

21 Boateng is on the touchline receiving treatment. He's upright but far from running as yet, a little bit like the rest of his side.

20 A nice effort from Torres as he turns inside Brown before bending a neat strike from outside the box a yard or so over the top of Begovic's bar.

18 Gerrard makes a lung-busting run behind Tal Ben-Haim but Kuyt's lofted pass can't match it.

17 Portsmouth have yet to get in behind Liverpool but given their lowly position I've been quietly impressed with their intent to keep the ball on the deck and play it around. They are lacking in the final third but Avram Grant will be happy enough so far.

15 The best opportunity so far as Gerrard and Torres combine to create a half chance for Dirk Kuyt. The Dutchman failed to get much purchase behind his effort though.

13 Dave Maxwell is hedging his bets in the way of a 2-2 draw, I'd say going off the game so far it might not be a goal-fest. Liverpool are looking pretty tight at the back but with just one upfront they might struggle to create chances themselves.

12 Portsmouth clear and launch upfield but Liverpool are soon back in possession. It's all a bit fragmented so far but given the conditions, it's an okay contest to watch.

11 Set-piece comes to nothing but as Insua puts in a nothing cross Finnan loses the pitch of the ball and needlessly concedes another.

10 Torres has just done brilliantly to win a corner, after carrying the ball 60-70 yards after robbing a ponderous Finnan.

8 I've had a few questions about the pitch. It looks very hard but the players are coping well and as yet there's not been any comedy slips on the ice....

7 Kevin Prince-Boateng hits one high, wide and not too handsome from the edge of the box. It was a wild effort but Portsmouth will draw confidence from the last couple of minutes. Piquionne is in good form of late and is a willing runner down the channels.

6 O'Hara drops a nice delivery into the box from a set-piece that just evades a leaping Hreidarsson. As the ball was played back in, Piquionne got in but his touch was heavy and the chance lost.

5 Portsmouth's first forward foray concludes with Belhadj making a bright raid down the left but Liverpool clear easily enough.

3 The home side look a little nervy as Liverpool look to put them on the back foot. Benitez's side appear to have the bit between their teeth.

2 Bright enough start for Liverpool as they begin to pop the ball around. No chances of yet but Glen Johnson has already got forward on the overlap a couple of times.

1 Portsmouth to get things underway here in what is a frosty but bright day on the coast.

Eddie's written in defend Benitez's time at Liverpool and has called on fellow fans to do likewise. "Why would true Liverpool fans be "a tad frosty" with Rafa? He's doing a great job. Liverpool are not as bad as the media is making out and neither is Rafa. Difficult game though, but Liverpool should win if they perform like they did in the first half against Arsenal."

Chris Hull has been on to predict a 4-0 thumping in Liverpool's favour, while Matty Frankland has had enough and would happily see Rafa's head on a silver platter.

Benitez has just been on to explain Aquilani's absence. He's got a calf strain so is unavailable for selection...

Anthony Mamo has emailed in from Sydney to wish all Liverpool supporters a happy Christmas, going on to predict a 3-1 win for his side, while Andy is confident that if the home side can keep the faith the points could be heading Portsmouth's way.

It's not all doom and gloom on Merseyside though as Taras Thomas has just weighed in with a wager on Portsmouth 0 Liverpool 5. Without wishing to go all Les Dennis, if that's the score I'll give you the money myself....

The thaw is starting to ease at Fratton Park but I'm sensing some Liverpool fans are still feeling a tad frosty towards Rafa Benitez. Joe Kelly is lamenting the continued absence of Alberto Aquilani, while Gary Hill is also scratching his head with regards Liverpool's starting XI.

Throughout the afternoon I'll be taking your emails and publishing the best. If you've any predictions, praise or gripes you'd like to unburden in the festive season feel free to email in at alex.dunn@bskyb.com.

And for Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Dossena, Gerrard, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Aurelio, Benayoun, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Skrtel.

The teams are in, let's kick off with Portsmouth: Begovic, Finnan, Kaboul, Ben-Haim, Hreidarsson, Yebda, Brown, O'Hara, Belhadj, Boateng, Piquionne. Subs: Ashdown, Mullins, Utaka, Hughes, Dindane, Kanu, Wilson.

Welcome to our live minute-by-minute coverage from Fratton Park as Liverpool make the long trip south to face Portsmouth. Buoyed by a midweek success against Wigan the Reds will be looking for another three point haul to get their bid for a top four spot back on track. Portsmouth have a decent record at home against the Reds and while they lost at Chelsea on Wednesday, they were far from disgraced and appear to heading in the right direction, albeit slowly, under Avram Grant.