Gerrard penalty keeps Liverpool in front

Steven Gerrard's penalty kept Liverpool top of the Premier League after they struggled to overcome a stubborn Portsmouth side 1-0 at Anfield here Wednesday.

Dirk Kuyt hit the post in the early stages at Anfield but Rafael Benitez's side struggled to break down Pompey, in their first match since Tony Adams was appointed manager in succession to Harry Redknapp.

The visitors, who should have led through Papa Bouba Diop's first-half header, were starting to look comfortable when Diop handled Fabio Aurelio's corner and Gerrard thumped home from the spot in the 76th minute.

Despite leaving out Daniel Agger, Javier Mascherano, Albert Riera and Robbie Keane from the side that won 1-0 at Chelsea to end the Blues' 86-game unbeaten league run at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool made a slick start.

With less than a minute gone, Kuyt shot over from just inside the area after ex-Liverpool man Peter Crouch could only get a weak header to Gerrard's corner.

But the Dutchman was clearly in the mood and after collecting Alvaro Arbeloa's pass, he was unlucky to see his shot deflect off Sylvain Distin and be palmed onto the post by David James.

The Reds continued to create openings with Lucas Leiva wasting a great opportunity when he was left unmarked at Aurelio's corner only to head over the bar from 12 yards.

And shortly after, Xabi Alonso drove just high and wide after Ryan Babel had made space with a powerful run down the left flank.

Portsmouth were happy to simply contain Liverpool for the opening quarter but finally threatened when Younes Kaboul headed wide from a free-kick from the impressive Lassana Diarra.

And then Diop passed up the best chance of the first half when he headed straight at Pepe Reina after Sean Davis's cross flicked off Sami Hyypia in the Pompey midfielder's path six yards from goal.

Even Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher found himself in an advanced enough position to force a save from James after Gerrard's free-kick was fired into the wall before Crouch failed to hit the target with a header from another Diarra free-kick from the right.

Gerrard was being shadowed by Diarra but finally found the space to create an opening for Kuyt, only for the Dutchman to fire into the side-netting.

And after Arbeloa curled a shot narrowly off-target, the Liverpool skipper's thumping drive was not held by James but was hacked away with Kuyt about to pounce in first-half stoppage time.

After the interval, Babel was too slow to react to Noe Paramot's under-hit back-pass and James was allowed the chance to clear.

At the other end, Diarra fired wide of goal from a knock-down from Crouch as Liverpool were finding it harder and harder to create opportunities.

Kuyt headed into the ground from a Babel cross and Lucas had a shot deflected wide after he burst onto Gerrard's pass, with Hyypia heading inches wide from the resulting corner.

And when it looked like substitute Yossi Benayoun would finally make the breakthrough from a Gerrard pass, he was denied by Distin's sliding challenge as he prepared to shoot.

But just as Portsmouth were looking like holding on for a point, Diop threw two hands at Aurelio's resulting corner as he attempted to stop Hyypia and Gerrard made no mistake from the spot.