The game itself was over in twenty minutes, then re-opened for another ten before being closed a little later. The Portsmouth defence, pretty good most of the time couldn't live with the wide players and their passes between centre back and full back. Yossi deserved his goal and has come on leaps and bounds since his debut goal. He looks first choice with every game. Somewhere Jermaine Pennant is grimacing slightly.
As for Kewell, a run of games is bringing him up to speed too. Today saw a lot of clever passes and movement. His reward was to be the second player dragged off instead of first. At some point he'll make ninety minutes. March 2010?
The only quiet player today was Gerrard but sometimes that's a good thing. Mascherano was outstanding and the best advert for Gillet and Hicks to throw £17m at whoever it is who actually owns him. It's high time that a central midfielder who isn't Gerrard took the plaudits so it was great to see. Gerrard wasn't great and, for once, he didn't need to be.
So, we can be afford to be cheerier now. Reading and Man U (I don't count Chelsea huffing and puffing to beat our fourth team) are now in the past and we have a run of fixtures that we should benefit from. Crucially today was the growing hunger for further goals. 2-0 wasn't enough so let's get four. Indeed, eight v Besiktas, six against Derby and four against Toulouse, Bolton, Porto, Marseille and now Portsmouth seems to have been ignored by the press. Torres also has 14 goals in 21 games. Last year that would have won him the top scorer award. Today is the Saturday before Christmas. Food for thought.
It's Derby next and then Man City and Wigan. Seven points minimum from that and some of us will begin to smile, for a little while at least.