Rafael Benitez insisted Liverpool deserved the nervy win that keeps them top of the Premier League.

It took a penalty from Steven Gerrard 15 minutes from time to break the resistance of new boss Tony Adams' Portsmouth and secure a 1-0 win at Anfield.

Liverpool looked a shadow of the side who broke Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten home record on Sunday. But the result was a relief for the Reds, who last month drew 0-0 at home to Stoke six days after beating Manchester United.

"It took a long time, but we had to be patient," said Benitez. "Maybe it took a penalty, but we'd had several chances before that and dominated the first period. But in the second half we were a little nervy. After beating Chelsea it was very important to get these three points, and to show that we can change four or five players and still win matches."

Adams was set for a well-earned point until Papa Bouba Diop needlessly handled the ball in the area under pressure from Liverpool centre-half Sami Hyypia.

But Adams said: "I did not blame Diop afterwards. I simply said that Hyypia had got away from him, a yard clear, and he panicked."