It threatened to be another failed attempt to prove that they can beat the rest as well as the best but Liverpool remain undefeated in the Barclays Premier League and at its helm after Steven Gerrard scored in the 75th minute from the penalty spot. “We will try to stay top of the table for a long time,” Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, said.

Tony Adams, taking charge for the first time after being appointed Portsmouth manger on Tuesday, found his attempts to stifle Liverpool almost paid off but a handball by Papa Bouba Diop undid his pragmatism, if not his optimism. “I think we played really well,” he said.

Benítez had made it plain enough that the 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday would be soured if Liverpool failed to take three points against Portsmouth. The inability of a team to win the game that immediately follows victory over a key rival has become known in recent weeks as the Stoke Effect. Liverpool beat Manchester United in September but could muster only a goalless draw against Stoke City in the next league fixture, something that was mentioned many times by players and manager in the build-up to this game. Even so, the suspicion remained that Benítez would rest key personnel and, sure enough, Robbie Keane, Albert Riera, Daniel Agger and Javier Mascherano were left on the bench after impressive performances against Chelsea. This represented the real triumph for Benítez. “The message is we can change players and we can still win,” he said.

Portsmouth sent tickets back to Anfield — allowing a rare pay-on-the-turnstile treat for Liverpool supporters — even though the previous time the South Coast club’s supporters made the trek to Merseyside, in August, they were rewarded with a 3-0 victory away to Everton; Portsmouth’s only away goals so far in the league this season. Peter Crouch returned to his former club with a point to prove having failed to convince Benítez that he was worthy of regular first-team football. He received a warm reception and was the last man to leave the pitch as the “he’s big, he’s red” song rang out in honour of the 40 goals he scored in his three years at Anfield.

More surprising than Benítez’s selection was the teamsheet submitted by Adams with Jermain Defoe dropped to the bench. Adams said after the game that the decision was tactical, even though “some people may say I’m crazy for keeping him on the bench for so long this evening, but we’ve been getting smashed up away from home.” Adams added that Defoe was 100 per cent behind him, a statement that was perhaps necessary given that Harry Redknapp, Adams’s predecessor, is expected to try to lure key players away from Fratton Park to Tottenham Hotspur.

Adams appeared philosophical in defeat but gave warning that he can become angry. “I am what I am,” he said. “If I see something that needs to be thrown, I throw it.” There were occasional lapses in Liverpool’s intensity and concentration such as when Bouba Diop found himself unmarked for a header which he tamely aimed straight at José Manuel Reina. A long-range effort from Jamie Carragher was troublesome but David James, the Portsmouth goalkeeper, quickly recovered and the artistry and pace of Ryan Babel’s stunning sprints were a highlight.

The half ended with Dirk Kuyt hitting the side-netting and with James spilling a fierce shot from Gerrard. The ball fell kindly for the Portsmouth defence and as the whistle blew for the interval there was a distinct whiff of the Stoke Effect around the stadium. And so the Kop heralded the start of the second half with the cry of “attack, attack, attack”. An out-of-character, shoddy free kick from Xabi Alonso was hardly a suitable response.

With Kuyt looking less than clinical as the central striker, he could probably have done without Fernando Torres emerging from the tunnel, wearing a white ski jacket, to present some junior players’ certificates in the break. Torres is expected to be fit for Liverpool’s match away to Tottenham on Saturday when he will presumably resume his partnership with Keane, who will find White Hart Lane much changed since his surprise departure in the summer.

The smaller-than-usual pocket of away fans, heartened by the way Portsmouth were frustrating the league leaders, began a sustained chant in honour of their new manager that was only broken when Sami Hyypia met Gerrard’s corner and was unlucky to see his header hit a post.

Babel had been Liverpool’s most incisive player and he set up a chance for Alonso just before being substituted — no doubt because he had suffered a variety of knocks throughout. But the arrival of Riera lifted both the crowd and the team and within minutes Liverpool had taken the lead they deserved when Fábio Aurélio’s corner was handled by Bouba Diop as Hyypia threatened to connect.

The visiting team became sprightlier once a goal behind with Defoe brought on to assist Crouch. Liverpool lost the composure that they had maintained against Chelsea and Benítez admitted the team became nervous as long balls were lofted into Reina’s penalty area, but they held on.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): J M Reina — Á Arbeloa, J Carragher, S Hyypia, F Aurélio — Lucas Leiva, Xabi Alonso — J Pennant (sub: Y Benayoun, 63min), S Gerrard (sub: R Keane, 90), R Babel (sub: A Riera, 71) — D Kuyt. Substitutes not used: D Cavalieri, A Dossena, D Agger, J Mascherano.

Portsmouth (4-1-4-1): D James — N Pamarot, Y Kaboul, S Distin, N Belhadj — L Diarra (sub: R Hughes, 80) — J Utaka (sub: J Defoe, 85), S Davis, P Bouba Diop, A Traoré (sub: N Kranjcar, 64) — P Crouch. Substitutes not used: J Ashdown, N Kanu, A Mvuemba, H Hreidarsson. Booked: Diarra, Belhadj, Bouba Diop.

Referee: S Tanner.