Pompey put paid to Liverpool title hopes

Liverpool's Premiership title ambitions all but ended as Rafael Benitez's lacklustre side were held to a 0-0 draw by third-placed Portsmouth at Anfield. Former Liverpool keeper David James, pictured July 2006, secured his first Anfield clean sheet in six attempts at the venue since leaving the club he served for seven years.

Liverpool's Premiership title ambitions all but ended as Rafael Benitez's lacklustre side were held to a 0-0 draw by third-placed Portsmouth at Anfield.

Despite stretching their unbeaten home league run to 24 games, Liverpool were left to reflect on what might have been as they allowed another two points to slip from their grasp in a troubled domestic campaign.

This was a must-win game for Liverpool, who kicked-off 14 points behind leaders Manchester United, if they were to keep their slim title hopes alive.

Yet Benitez's team endured a night of frustration as former Liverpool keeper David James secured his first Anfield clean sheet in six attempts at the venue since leaving the club he served for seven years.

James requires just four more clean sheets to pass David Seaman's record of 141 shut-outs on the Premiership stage although it is unlikely the 36-year-old former England international will experience a more comfortable 90 minutes than this one on Merseyside.

Despite carving out a host of chances, Benitez's under-performing troops struggled to breakdown a stubborn Portsmouth defence as Liverpool started brightly before fading badly.

Jamie Carragher, deployed as an emergency midfielder in the absence of injured duo Momo Sissoko and Boudewijn Zenden, did not take long to adapt to his new role as the England defender went close with a fierce long-range effort in the second minute.

James made comfortable saves from Peter Crouch and Luis Garcia before Liverpool went close to breaking the deadlock through an unlikely source, Finland defender Sami Hyypia's 25-yard dipping effort narrowly off-target.

Portsmouth, seeking a first Anfield victory in 55 years, seemed happy to sit back and soak up the pressure.

Liverpool keeper Jose Reina did not have a save to make, Matt Taylor's half-hearted effort in front of The Kop the closest the visitors came to taking the lead. Yet for all their possession, Benitez's outfit struggled to seriously test James.

Not for the first time this season, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard looked his side's biggest threat as he looked to celebrate a personal anniversary with a goal.

Eight years to the day since he made his senior debut as a last minute substitute in a 2-0 win over Blackburn, the England midfielder went close with a 20-yard effort before unleashing a terrific volley which just missed the target.

Had some of his other team-mates possessed the same energy and drive then Liverpool might have wrapped up the points by half-time.

Gerrard was also involved in his side's best move of the first half as his delightful 38th minute pass allowed Steve Finnan to whip in a cross which Garcia could only head tamely wide when the Spaniard should have done better.

Liverpool's frustration boiled over in the 52nd minute when Carragher was booked for a cynical foul on Pedro Mendes under the nose of referee Alan Wiley.

Benitez threw on veteran striker Robbie Fowler in a desperate effort to find a late winner while 20-year-old Moroccan striker Nabil El Zhar, who joined from St Etienne, also made his debut from the bench.

But Liverpool could not find the vital breakthrough as Portsmouth held out to end a five-match losing run away from home.