Liverpool's too class players finally click against Pompey but is it too late to salvage the season?

By David Anderson in

Published 09:10 16/03/10

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By David Anderson

Pompey fans sure know how to rub it in.

Last night at Anfield they unfurled a banner in the Anfield Road end, which read 'Leeds, Portsmouth, Liverpool'.

The Reds' financial woes may not be as bad as the crises which forced Leeds and Portsmouth into administration, but they are worrying.

Pompey's players might as well have been wearing 'for sale' signs around their necks, such is administrator Andrew Andronikou's desperation to find a buyer for the club.

His aim is to try to bring them out of administration to avoid them being hit with a points deduction for the start of next season.

Andronikou says he is baffled by claims from TV's Secret Millionaire Rob Lloyd that he wants to take charge at Fratton Park.

Liverpool's managing director Christian Purslow is also looking for someone to pump some cash into the club and he is after £100million to keep their bankers happy.

The New York-based Rhone Group are willing to pay this much for a 40 per cent stake, which would reduce the holdings of hated co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks to 30 per cent each.

Purslow's hunt for new investors is almost as important to the club's future as Rafa Benitez's attempts to secure Champions League football.

Fernando Torres has cranked up the pressure on Purslow, saying he wants to see "four or five top-class players" signed in the summer, while Steven Gerrard's demeanour is not that of a contented player.

The irony of Torres' statement is that Liverpool already have four or five top-class players in their squad and he, Gerrard, Pepe Reina and Javier Mascherano are among the best in the world in their positions.

The problem for Liverpool is that Torres, Gerrard and Mascherano have been crocked for different chunks of the season and unable to find their best form.

Last night the trio finally clicked as they combined to cut Portsmouth down and collect three most-welcome points.

Kopites will be hoping they can continue this resurgence to salvage something from this awful season and prove that Pompey banner wrong.

Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth: The Daily Mirror match report

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