UCL: FC Porto 1-1 Liverpool: 10-man Reds hang on

	FC Porto 1 - 1 Liverpool 8' Luis González (pen) 1 - 0 17' 1 - 1 Dirk Kuyt
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Liverpool escaped with a precious point from a dreadful performance in their opening Champions League Group A clash against Porto in the Estadio Dragao.

Liverpool, particularly in the first period, were just awful and at times Porto threatened to over-run them.

The Anfield men played the final 32 minutes with 10 men after Jermaine Pennant tested the patience of referee Michel Lubos once too often with a frustrated, fractious display that cost him two yellow cards.

Porto had led early on through a Lucho Gonzalez penalty but had to thank Dirk Kuyt for a priceless header on 17 minutes.

That gave Liverpool something to cling onto, and they at least managed that level of resilience when it mattered.

As it was the heroes were the hard-working Kuyt and dependable defender Alvaro Arbeloa as Porto failed to find a way through.

Last season's beaten finalists looked a shambles in the opening period, a segment of play as bad as anything they have produced under Rafael Benitez.

They were without midfielder Xabi Alonso, who had failed to recover from an ankle problem initially sustained at Portsmouth on Saturday, and aggravated last night in training, but there was no excuse for such a disjointed spell.

Benitez had made six changes from the side that drew at Fratton Park, with Sami Hyypia at the back, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Ryan Babel returning to midfield with what looks now like his first-choice front pairing of Fernando Torres and Kuyt.

And they looked like strangers against a slick attack. The Portuguese champions were led by inspired skipper Gonzalez, a summer target of Everton, plus the exciting skills of Ricardo Quaresma who has been linked to Chelsea.

And it was the 23-year-old who almost set up a second minute Porto goal when his cross was deflected straight to Lisandro Lopez, standing six yards out and unmarked. Somehow Jose Reina got his body in the way of the instant shot.

Liverpool were under intense early pressure and another Quaresma angled effort flew just over, with Pennant fortunate not to be booked for slashing at Quaresma's legs.

Liverpool were barely in the game and a goal was inevitable. It came on eight minutes when Hyypia was slow to close down Tarik Sektioui, and Reina's challenge sent the Dutch striker to the ground. Gonzalez crashed home the penalty.

Liverpool's game was still error-strewn, but somehow they struck back on 17 minutes. Steve Finnan lifted a free-kick deep into the box where Hyypia headed back across goal for Kuyt to head home from six yards.

Pennant was booked for another foul on Quaresma, and from the free-kick Bruno Alves headed wide from a glorious unmarked position in the box.

Lopez charged down a Hyypia clearance and Reina had to kick desperately to safety, Liverpool's back-line having plenty of trouble containing three swift strikers.

The unlikeliest of people, Gerrard, Mascherano and Jamie Carragher, kept giving the ball away or were caught in possession.

Pennant had to be pulled away from referee Lubos by Kuyt early in the second half as the winger complained about another decision going against him, the Slovakian official showing remarkable restraint.

Still Porto had much of the possession, moving it quickly to the flanks, in particular the right where Quaresma was a constant threat.

Pennant was not going to last much longer in this fractious mood, and on 58 minutes the referee lost patience.

Pennant chased a long pass into the corner and sent Raul Meireles crashing over the line in his eagerness to get the ball. He then claimed a corner and turned to argue with the linesman and referee.

The yellow card was already out, followed by the red and Pennant was off, a lack of discipline that will enrage Benitez who barely looked at the winger as he marched down the tunnel.

Hyypia cleared away from an open goal from Quaresma's lob.

Porto sent on Mariano Gonzalez and Mario Bolatti for Meireles and Sektioui on 65 minutes.

Torres was booked for dissent on 73 minutes, Kuyt for a foul two minutes later.

A minute later a disappointed Torres, who had worked hard but got nowhere all evening, was replaced by Andriy Voronin.

Gerrard had a rare chance in the box when he volleyed wide from an Arbeloa angled ball into the box, but it was soon all hands to the pump at the other end.

On 85 minutes, Fabio Aurelio came on for Ryan Babel and Liverpool managed to get away with a point from one of their poorest displays in a long time.

Source: Soccernet.com