Pompey’s revival under Avram Grant continued at the weekend with a 2-0 home win over a Liverpool side in freefall. Having also beaten Burnley by the same scoreline at Fratton Park, Portsmouth are starting to pick up the Premiership points; that’s seven out of the last possible twelve, a record, ironically, better than top of the table Chelsea.

Here’s a look at how the match panned out, ensuring the Israeli continued his unbeaten streak against Rafa Benitez in Saturday’s early kick-off…

Lopsided Pompey

The decision of Benitez to start with Andrea Dossena at left midfield and bench the likes of Benayoun and Babel can possibly be taken in context when the pattern of Portsmouth’s play is looked at. In their previous home game against Burnley, the majority of their play came down the right hand side of the pitch, as this chalkboard illustrates.

At the weekend, the Liverpool boss perhaps decided to play a more combative player to counter the right wings raids of Kevin Prince Boateng, but as this chalkboard shows, it was to no avail, as almost all of the Portsmouth play continued to come down that one side of the pitch. No surprise, then, to see the first goal scored from the right of the goal, and the second goal coming courtesy of a cross from the right.

A Brilliant Work Ethic

With a middle three of O’Hara, Brown and Yebda in front of the back four, it was the job of wingers Belhadj and Boateng to support Piquionne, the lone forward. Not only, however, did the two wide men have a hand in both goals (a goal and an assist between them) they dropped back to help their defence -shown in this chalkboard– as Pompey’s spirit brushed aside their lacklustre visitors. In a week where the likes of Liverpool and Man City have shown that money doesn’t buy a desire to succeed, Portsmouth’s will-to-win paid huge dividends.

Experience at the Back

Cool heads are required when you’re at the bottom, and Grant was slightly critical of young Mark Wilson last midweek, when the Irishman conceded Chelsea’s match-winning penalty at Stamford Bridge with a needless foul on Branislav Ivanovic.

With the experience of Steve Finnan and Hermann Hreidarsson at full back flanking Ben Haim and Kaboul in the middle, Portsmouth had more of a solidity about them at the weekend. Finnan’s FPL stats are particularly impressive; the defender picking up 29 points over a mere 7 games, and comes in at just £4.4m.

His performance, ironically, could well be used to raise questions over his former boss Benitez’s purchases. This chalkboard compares the passing performance of Portsmouth’s ex-Liverpool right back with Liverpool’s ex-Portsmouth right back, Glen Johnson. Of the two, it was Finnan who got forward more as an attacking threat. Johnson, of course, cost £18m, whereas Finnan came to Pompey on a free transfer, having been deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield and sold to Espanyol in September 2008.

Piquionne’s a Man In Form

Up front, the on-loan Frenchman continues to impress. Frederic Piquionne has taken part in four of the five league games Portsmouth have played under Avram Grant, and his on-pitch return? Two goals and two assists, with the goals coming against two of last season’s Top Four. Throw in the 3 FPL Bonus Points picked up on Saturday, and the striker- a mere £4.8m- is surely one worth considering, given Pompey’s recent form.

Brace Yourself, Avram. Here Comes the ACON

Of all the Premiership clubs, Portsmouth are the most affected by the upcoming African Cup of Nations, as six members of the first-team squad head off on international duty, including three of Saturday’s starters, Boateng, Yebda and Belhadj. Just when it looked like they had reasons to be cheerful down the South coast, eh?

This coming weekend sees a proverbial six-pointer as Pompey travel to Upton Park to meet a West Ham side that will be undoubtedly buoyed by yesterday’s 1-1 battling draw with Chelsea. Victory there, though, and we may even see a smile from Avram. Or is that just asking too much?