Safety first Rafa - Reds boss orders rest cure before Chelsea clash

As Chelsea creaked under the demands of a four-trophy chase, Rafa Benitez played it safe, leaving the core of his team on Merseyside. Those who played at Fratton Park ought to have been straining every sinew to earn a place in the Champions League semi-final team.

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But they appeared consumed by the mood that this was a game to be endured, hopefully without injury, and Sami Hyypia was the only one who can have done anything to improve his chances of playing tomorrow.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp was not about to complain. He was delighted to bank three points and ease Pompey back into the UEFA Cup places, at least until Reading play tonight.

"I'd have done exactly the same," said Redknapp. "That's the advantage they have over Chelsea. They could afford to rest some key players. Chelsea are running on empty at the moment. I don't know how they've kept going.

"Lampard, Terry and Drogba have played week in, week out, Saturday, midweek — all massive games — and that's after coming back from the World Cup. It's got to take its toll at this stage of the season."

Benitez expects the Anfield crowd to lift his players as they bid to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Chelsea and Redknapp admits the Kop factor could play a big role.

The Pompey boss said: "On a European Cup night, there's nowhere like Anfield. When they sing "You'll never walk alone" it makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. They will drive their team on. Chelsea will have a hard night there."

Benitez also has the memory of 2005 to inspire him, when his team beat Chelsea at Anfield at the same stage of the Champions League before going on to conquer AC Milan in the final.

"Anfield will be boiling," said Boudewijn Zenden, Liverpool's former Chelsea midfielder, one of only four from the team who started last week's semi-final first leg defeat at Stamford Bridge to start at Portsmouth. Six who will form the core of the team tomorrow were 250 miles away, enjoying a gentle work-out on Merseyside. Dirk Kuyt relaxed on the bench.

Benitez handed debuts to leftback Emiliano Insua and winger Nabil El Zhar and Gabriel Paletta started in defence for the first time since Arsenal scored six in the Carling Cup in January.

Portsmouth seized the initiative and were two up in little more than half an hour as Liverpool defended dreadfully. Paletta and Jerzy Dudek failed to cope with a simple long ball from David James and Benjani pounced for the first.

Then right back Alvaro Arbeloa was miles out of position when Zenden lost possession in midfield and Lauren sprayed a pass to the Pompey left where Niko Kranjcar applied a clinical finish.

Hyypia pulled one back with a thumping header from Robbie Fowler's corner as Liverpool improved slightly after the break but the Finn was far from impressed by the attitude of his team-mates.

"The change seemed to disrupt things,' said Hyypia. Although it was a chance for those not playing regularly, we did not play well in the first half and conceded two silly goals. Maybe some of the players were nervous. There were a lot who did not play."

Redknapp's team are in the hunt for a UEFA Cup place but the manager reminded his chairman Alexandre Gaydamak that he needs more players in the summer to stop the club slipping back.

"We definitely need to improve the squad, without a doubt," said Redknapp.

"We have got the absolute maximum from our players this season. Tottenham should be miles in front of us. Berbatov, Keane, Defoe, Mido, Jenas, Lennon, King, Dawson and Chimbonda — their right back cost seven million quid. Look at their squad and we're above them still. It's incredible.

"Look at Newcastle — £10 million for Martins, £8m for Parker and we're above them. We've done brilliant this year. Tony Adams keeps saying: '"How do you keep getting the results from them, Harry?' But I'm not silly, I know the quality of players we need to improve the squad."