SOCCER/FC Porto 1 Liverpool 1Form deserted Liverpool on their return to the Champions League last night but their customary efficiency in the competition did not. Outplayed and out-numbered for much of their opening Group A contest against FC Porto, Rafael Benitez's men were a pale imitation of the team that has driven Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho to distraction by appearing able to walk to a European Cup final in its sleep, yet still they returned home with a valuable point.
Reduced to 10 men when Jermaine Pennant was dismissed 10 minutes after the restart, the 2005 winners contained Jesualdo Ferreira's exuberant side to the point of frustration, Porto's players sinking to their knees on the final whistle. The resilience and the result appeased Benitez, but performance must improve immeasurably if Liverpool are to seriously harbour hopes of appearing in Moscow next May.
Liverpool began at Estadio do Dragao as they have rarely performed under the Spaniard on the continent, shambolically, and were fortunate their goal was breached only once in the first eight minutes as Porto penetrated almost at will. The Portuguese champions sold heavily in the summer but their eye for technically accomplished assets continues to roll. One player they were able to retain despite a big bid from Everton, Lucho Gonzalez, proved instrumental in their dominant first-half display with deft delivery and ingenuity.
The Porto captain instigated the move that exposed the lack of pace in Sami Hyypia and brought the fourth penalty Liverpool have conceded this season when he sent a delightful pass inside the Finnish international. Favourite to collect, Hyypia was instead beaten to the ball by Tarik Sektioui who was tripped by Pepe Reina for a spot-kick that prompted no argument before being coolly dispatched.
The game was not yet out of the embryonic stage but Gonzalez's penalty could, with more precision in front of goal, have been the home side's third of the night. After two minutes Ricardo Quaresma deflected an attempted clearance from Steve Finnan across the Liverpool goalmouth and straight to Lisandro Lopez standing unmarked in front of goal. Reina spread himself superbly, however, to block the striker's shot with his chest and then saw an angled volley from Quaresma sail narrowly over his top corner as the visiting defence were gripped by rare hesitancy.
As so often, Liverpool somehow found a release from the incessant Porto pressure and their own careless performance to equalise with their first attack and the only threatening moment of the first half. Finnan drifted a free-kick to the back of the home penalty following a foul on Fernando Torres in the 17th minute, Hyypia atoned for his earlier mistake to head back across goal and Dirk Kuyt, from an identical position to his consolation in last season's final against Milan, profited from Joao Paulo's failure to clear and steered a header beyond goalkeeper Nuno.
The relief brought improvement to Liverpool's football, although their right flank continued to flounder against Quaresma and Porto's defender Bruno Alves squandered a fine opportunity to restore his side's lead when he headed a well-worked free-kick wide.
Benitez had intended to deploy Steven Gerrard in right midfield in an effort to quell Quaresma until Xabi Alonso limped out of training with an ankle problem on the eve of the game, and with Mohamed Sissoko left behind on Merseyside for family reasons the Liverpool manager had little choice but to field Pennant in a more expansive team. Weakened in numbers and weak in performance, Liverpool could ill-afford to lose their discipline too but they were reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute when the winger carelessly, if harshly, attracted his second yellow card of the night.
It was to Liverpool's belated credit that, with Fernando Torres anonymous in attack, their previously troubled defence rediscovered their resilience, Hyypia hooking off the goalline from Quaresma as Porto petered out.
FC PORTO:Nuno, Bruno Alves, Paulo Assuncao, Quaresma, Lucho Gonzalez, Lopez, Bosingwa, Fucile, Joao Paulo, Raul Meireles (Farias 64), Sektioui (Mariano Gonzalez 64). Subs not used: Ventura, Stepanov, Cech, Bolatti, Kazmierczak. Booked: Bosingwa. Goals: Lucho Gonzalez 8 pen.
LIVERPOOL:Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Carragher, Pennant, Mascherano, Gerrard, Babel (Aurelio 85), Torres (Voronin 76), Kuyt. Subs not used: Itandje, Agger, Benayoun, Crouch, Lucas. Sent Off: Pennant (58). Booked: Pennant, Torres, Kuyt, Mascherano. Goals: Kuyt 17.
