Rafa to rest players

With this game coming inbetween the two legs of the Champions League semi-final with Chelsea, and with the Reds already having qualified for next season's Champions League, Rafa Benitez will take the opportunity to rest players this afternoon.

"I will use my squad for this game and mix it up with some experienced and young players," said the Liverpool boss in his pre-match press conference.

"We want to win this game and to finish third would be better for us. It's clear it's not easy to turn our focus away from the Chelsea game but we will try to beat Portsmouth.

"If you asked me whether we want to reach a final or finish third then I would say reach a final, but we will go to Portsmouth with the idea of winning the match."