A bemused Liverpool returned from Portugal with the most fortunate Champions League point they are ever likely to claim after a poor display in the Estadio do Dragao, when somehow and under constant pressure they managed a 1-1 draw in their opening Group A match.

Manager Rafael Benitez insisted afterwards that he will never tolerate such a display of incompetence again.

Skipper Steven Gerrard, as well as defensive lynchpin Jamie Carragher, were of a like mind in the retreat from Porto.

Gerrard was scathing: "We just did not match up to our own standards."

Benitez now has a fortnight to prepare for group leaders Marseille and their visit to Anfield. Any repeat then of Tuesday's ineptitude will put qualification for the last 16 severely at risk.

Benitez said: "It was not up to scratch, especially in the first half, this was not the way Liverpool play.

"We were surprised by the way we played. We kept giving the ball away, we made mistakes that are just not normal for us.

"It is an experience we will not repeat. We must learn from our mistakes to make sure that does not happen.

"Next time we know we must start the game properly, it is something we need to change in the future to make sure we start correctly.

"The players know that we did not do well and they know we did not start well.

"They are very aware that this experience must not be repeated. They will know that, and we know that.

"I am certain that this will not happen again, the future will be totally different, will not play like that again."

Liverpool were a goal behind to an early Lucho Gonzalez penalty, and there could have been more, before Dirk Kuyt - a tireless battler throughout a game that saw Liverpool reduced to 10 men because of Jermaine Pennant's senseless dismissal -headed them level.

And Gerrard, who looked as if he was suffering from his two-match England exertions last week and was playing despite his fractured toe, was equally baffled and angry about the outcome in Portugal.

He said: "A point away from home in the Champions League is a good result but we're disappointed with the way we played. We didn't start well and never really recovered.

"We had 10 men for the last 35 minutes so we had to grind out, and work hard for the result.

"We normally start well in Champions League games and we're usually a really good side away from home in Europe, but we did not match those standards against Porto.

"We've built a successful team in Europe on starting well, making it difficult for the opposition, being good in possession and very good on the counter-attack. All these things did not go well this time.

"We've been in two finals in the past three seasons but we never reached those standards in Porto. Before the game, maybe we would have taken a point because Porto are a good side with really dangerous attacking players.

"But they can expect a different Liverpool when they come to Anfield, and if we can take four points off them, it will stand us in good stead in the group stages."

Defender Carragher was upbeat even though the overall performance must have surprised Europe's other big guns.

He said: "There is no need to panic. We showed a lot of character to get ourselves back in the game and probably had the better of the chances in the second-half with 10 men. We would probably have taken that result before the game.

"They fizzed the ball around very quickly and (Ricardo) Quaresma caused us problems. Sometimes you've got to hold your hands up and say the other team has played well.

"Other teams are allowed to play well against you. I'd say the first 30 minutes was up there with the toughest games we've ever had in Europe.

"But they are a top side. Quaresma is a top player who people talk about, but also (Lucho) Gonzalez, the Argentinian."

And Carragher had sympathy for his friend and former England team-mate Gerrard, who looked out of sorts for long spells.

Carragher said: "Stevie is the best captain there is. Everyone realises what he does for us now.

"I'm sure he will get to 100 European games within the next couple of years. What he has done for this club already has secured him a place as one of the greatest ever players to wear a red shirt.

"I'm certain that in the next four or five years there's so much more to come."