Goals from Benjani Mwaruwari and Niko Kranjcar gave Portsmouth all three points in their Premiership clash at Fratton Park.

Although Sami Hyypia netted for Liverpool, manager Rafael Benitez's decision to rest seven stars did not help their cause.

Harry Redknapp's team boosted their own European ambitions with this win over Benitez's men, who play the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Chelsea on Tuesday.

Pommpey are up to seventh place in the Premiership - and if they finish there they will earn a UEFA Cup place next season.

Benitez's men are in danger of being overhauled for third place by Arsenal - as he turns his attentions to Europe and hopes his first-choice team can come from behind against Jose Mourinho's men at Anfield.

Despite the absence of Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch, Jamie Carragher, John Arne Riise and goalkeeper Jose Reina, Benitez's policy seemed to be paying off in the opening 20 minutes.

Pompey - minus Achilles victim Sol Campbell - failed to live up to a vibrant start when their visitors looked vulnerable in the air to high crosses.

Although Robbie Fowler was denied by an offside flag after latching onto Boudewijn Zenden's pass and clipping the ball over David James, Liverpool's deficiencies and lack of individual Premiership experience began to show.

A near-miss by Gary O'Neil should have been a warning as Jerzy Dudek went full length to keep out the midfielder's curling low 26th-minute shot - with on-loan Argentinian Emilanio Insua left on his backside on his debut.

But it was Dudek's hesitancy which handed the outstanding Benjani the breakthrough for Portsmouth a minute later.

A big clearance from former Liverpool goalkeeper David James bounced outside the Reds penalty area and stand-in centre-back Gabriel Paletta appeared to let it go.

But Dudek had not come quickly enough off his line and Benjani bravely stuck his head in and nodded the ball over the goalkeeper for his sixth goal of the season.

It was 2-0 five minutes later.

Kanu did well to feed Lauren out on the right and the Cameroon player's long crossfield ball put in substitute Kranjcar as Liverpool appealed for offside.

The Croatian, who had come on 11 minutes earlier for the injured Matthew Taylor, advanced and stroked the ball past Dudek with his right foot just before Alvaro Arbeloa could get in a recovery tackle.

Liverpool camped in Pompey's half for the rest of the first period but Zenden's half-volley from 25 yards cannoned back off the crossbar after beating James in the 44th minute.

Liverpool's anguish was underlined when Xabi Alonso was booked for dissent at a free-kick in first-half stoppage-time.

But it looked like they might save the game when, after a brighter start to the second half, Finnish defender Hyypia headed in a Fowler corner at the near post in the 59th minute.

Dudek's save two minutes earlier had denied Benjani a second goal after he pounced on another error by Paletta.

Pompey never quite settled for complete caution after the break as a clearly-chastened Liverpool finally stepped on the gas.

The scorching south-coast temperatures, touching 72 Fahrenheit at the start, dragged energy from legs and the game never really developed as a classic.

But James had to make a typically brave save at the feet of Fowler just before the end - after substitute striker Lomana LuaLua had a debatable penalty claim turned down at the other end.