Ten-man Reds strike back for draw

But somehow the Anfield men, who produced a dreadful display at times, clung onto what could be a priceless point.

They were behind on just eight minutes to a Lucho Gonzalez penalty, but Dirk Kuyt's header on 17 minutes eventually proved to be their life-saver.

Last season's beaten finalists looked a shambles in the opening period, a segment of play as bad as anything they have produced under Rafael Benitez.

They were without midfielder Xabi Alonso, who had failed to recover from an ankle problem initially sustained at Portsmouth on Saturday, and aggravated on Monday night in training, but there was no excuse for such a disjointed spell.

Benitez had made six changes from the side that drew at Fratton Park, with Sami Hyypia at the back, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Ryan Babel returning to midfield with what looks now like his first-choice front pairing of Fernando Torres and Kuyt.

Liverpool were barely in the game and a goal was inevitable.

It came on eight minutes when Sami Hyypia was slow to close down Tarik Sektioui, and Jose Reina's challenge sent the Dutch striker to the ground. Gonzalez crashed home the penalty.

Liverpool's game was still error-strewn, but somehow they struck back on 17 minutes.

Steve Finnan lifted a free-kick deep into the box where Hyypia headed back across goal for Kuyt to head home from six yards.