Liverpool hit purple patch with a comprehensive 4-1 win over portsmouth at home

Liverpool beat Portsmouth to end losing run

Liverpool hit purple patch with a comprehensive 4-1 win over portsmouth at home

Liverpool's Fernando Torres celebrates after scoring against Portsmouth at Anfield last night. Liverpool won 4-1 to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for next year's champions League. Pic/Getty Images

The Spanish international scored two and was involved in the other two as Rafael Benitez's side scored three times in six first-half minutes to end a two-match losing run.

A shocking error by keeper Jamie Ashdown, standing in for injured England international David James, allowed Torres to open the floodgates in the 26th minute.

Liverpool supporters were still celebrating Torres's 14th goal of the campaign when Ryan Babel pounced after clever work by the Spaniard two minutes later.

Alberto Aquilani made sure of the points in the 32nd minute, the Italian's first goal for the club in his fifth Premier League start since joining from Roma for 17million pounds last August.

Although Liverpool's problems have been well documented, they are insignificant compared to Portsmouth's.

Crisis club off the pitch, a team playing with admirable spirit, freedom and no little belief on it -- and one win away from a second FA Cup final in three years no less.

Not that any of that disguises the fact that they have been dreadful this season -- they are not bottom of the league without cause.

They arrived at Anfield on a run of just one win in 10 Premier League matches and had lost 14 of their 15 matches against teams in the top half of the Premier League.

If that was not bad enough, James was forced to miss the game with a calf injury.

That paved the way for Ashdown to make only his second Premier League start of the season.

Ashdown enjoyed a trouble free opening 25 minutes before his horrendous error allowed Liverpool to take total charge.

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