Draw shows improvement

Although the Reds were disappointed to come away from Fratton Park with only a point, Peter Crouch believes in recent years they would have come away with nothing so yesterday was a small step in the right direction.

"A lot of teams will find it very difficult coming to Portsmouth. They are a strong side physically - probably the strongest in the league," said the Liverpool striker.

"But we matched them in that way and maybe a year or two ago we would have lost that game.

"I tried to put myself about, especially with it being my first start in the league, but Sol and Distan are two good centre-halves and it was a difficult test.

"I think it's a decent point, even though we're disappointed not to take away all three."