The Reds completely dominated the first half and could have scored more than two due to our most woeful defensive performance since we got thrashed at Ewood Park last season.
Liverpool opened the scoring after Yossi Benayoun volleyed in from the edge of the box from Harry Kewell's cross. The goal was slightly unfortunate from our point of view as Glen Johnson was off the field injured meaning that nobody was tracking Kewell but even so, nobody closed down Benayoun who had time to pick his spot.
The second goal was even more unlucky from our point of view as Sol Campbell's clearance hit Sylvain Distin on the knee and trickled agonisingly into the bottom corner of the net.
Our hosts continued to push for a third as our back four looked all at sea and couldn't handle the wingers or Fernando Torres who was giving the centre backs a torrid time all game. The half-time whistle was gratefully received by Pompey who were a shadow of the team that have won seven games in a row away from home.
Harry made a couple of changes at half-time with the once again ineffective John Utaka being replaced by Kanu who played up top as Benjani moved to the right wing. Lauren also came on for Johnson whose injury was obviously too bad for him to continue.
The changes paid dividends as we looked a much better side in the second half and got one back after Kanu's good work and cross found Benjani unmarked in the box. I'm still yet to see the goal as the view from my seat was absolutely awful (stuck in the top right corner) and I haven't seen it on TV yet but I've been told it was a good finish.
Once we got a goal back we started playing some of the football that has served us so well away from Fratton Park and we looked the better side as we pushed for an equaliser.
But then more defensive calamity meant that Fernando Torres was gifted a sight at goal and you just don't give a player of his quality a chance like that. He took it, we were 3-1 down and it was essentially game over.
Harry threw on Matthew Taylor but played him on the right for some reason. It didn't work and Torres' finish from outside the box put the icing on the cake for the Scousers.
There were two big problems for us yesterday that resulted in such a drubbing.
The defensive performance, as I've already stated was woeful. Distin had his worst game in a Pompey shirt as did Sol Campbell. Hermann had an awful game and Johnson was given the runaround and should have come off when he was injured.
The only plus point from a defensive point of view was Lauren's performance in the second half that gave us extra solidity. It would also be unfair to pin the blame for this result entirely on the defence as the midfield gave them no protection at all.
Sulley Muntari and Papa Bouba Diop were nowhere near quick enough to close the Liverpool players down whilst Pedro Mendes looks a shadow of his former self and isn't a defensive midfielder anyway. We really needed Sean Davis yesterday or maybe Richard Hughes should have been given a chance?
Tony Adams will be giving the defenders a bollocking and then getting them on the training pitch to make sure we don't play like that again against his former club on Boxing Day because if we do, Christ knows how many they will score.
Our last two games have resulted in our two worst performances of the season so you could say we're off form, but Boxing Day will represent the perfect time to address that when there's not so much expectation at home when we play the league leaders.
Pompey Player Ratings
David James: 6 - Erratic, but saved our skins once or twice.
Glen Johnson: 5 - Should have came off when injured as Kewell gave him him a nightmare.
Sol Campbell: 5 - Very shaky and could not handle Torres.
Sylvain Distin: 5 - Nowhere near his best but was very unlucky with the OG.
Hermann Hreidarsson: 5 - Bad game.
Sulley Muntari: 5 - Will not be wanted by Liverpool based on that performance.
Pedro Mendes: 5 - Passing was nowhere near up to standard.
Papa Bouba Diop: 5 - Didn't close down quick enough and wasn't strong enough.
John Utaka: 4 - Time to be dropped after too many anonymous games.
Niko Kranjcar: 6 - Looked good when he got the ball which was nowhere near often enough.
Benjani: 7 - Our best player when moved to the right.
Substitutes
Asmir Begovic
Lauren: 6 - A good showing after so long out of the team.
Matthew Taylor: 5 - Played on the right and had two woeful attempts at goal. Needs a run in the side to build confidence but won't get it.
Kanu: 6 - Held the ball up well and helped to create the Benjani goal.
David Nugent