TONY ADAMS took more than his fair share of smacks to the head during his days governing the Arsenal defence. He did not expect to celebrate his first game as Pompey chief by getting a sock in the kisser off his own team. Yet that is exactly how it went at Anfield last night, as Papa Bouba Diop’s rush of blood to the head — or should that be hands — kept Liverpool riding high on top of the table.

Just 15 minutes remained before Adams could celebrate his top-flight managerial debut by nicking a point off the Premier League pacesetters. But then amazingly, inexplicably, Diop rose above Sami Hyypia to meet a Fabio Aurelio corner — and punched the ball away in volleyball fashion.

Referee Steve Tanner was spot- on in pointing to the spot, and Steven Gerrard ended what was threatening to become a night of real frustration by burying the penalty in the corner. It was cruel luck on Adams, who up to that point was bang on course to mark his first game in charge with a memorable — if somewhat fortunate — draw. Never mind, Tony, it will not always be as tough as this. Like entertaining Wigan Athletic this weekend, for instance.

Adams had set his stall out by leaving top scorer Jermaine Defoe on the bench, trying to cut off Liverpool’s supply line by packing the midfield. Great in theory. Yet in practice the Reds cut through them at will and it was only the home side’s insistence in constantly trying to find a glory ball, and walk it in, that kept Pompey in it. The leaders should really have been in front inside a minute, when Dirk Kuyt skied a chance at the far post from Gerrard’s corner.

And the Dutchman was again cursing his luck when the impressive Alvaro Arbeloa and Jermaine Pennant combined down the right, and Kuyt brought a great save from David James, who pushed his low shot against a post. If that was unfortunate, the next missed opening was a real finger-pointer, Lucas popping up totally unmarked but heading Aurelio’s corner over the top. Pompey had not left Anfield as victors for 57 years and never seriously threatened to end that dismal sequence.

Ryan Babel had the beating of Noe Pamarot down the Reds’ left — at least when not frustratingly cutting inside — but went for the byline on too few occasions. And skipper Gerrard took an age to find his touch and form after his outstanding display at Stamford Bridge three days earlier. Adams opted to use Lassana Diarra in the holding role, yet he was caught flat-footed by one Gerrard surge to the edge of the box, picking up a yellow card for a crude lunge from behind. Liverpool were often bereft of ideas at set pieces.

That, combined with a determination to score the perfect goal, kept Pompey in it for longer than they should have been. Even Jamie Carragher was trying his luck, from all of 30 yards, but straight at keeper James. James again came up trumps to push away another low shot from Gerrard, although it took an alert Pamarot to nick it off Kuyt’s toe. As it was, it was threatening to turn into another 90 minutes of frustration similar to the one which saw them follow victory over Manchester United with a blank against Stoke. Everything is certainly in place for the Reds to at least still be in the hunt come the business end of the season — IF they can finish teams off when they are there for the taking as Pompey were. Mind you, they didn’t enjoy the greatest of fortune either with Arbeloa’s first-time strike from the edge of the box curling just wide.

A Hyypia header from Gerrard’s corner clipped an upright before flying behind — and then a Kuyt shot had half the ground on their feet before they realised it was in the side netting. There was nothing fortunate about Sylvain Distin’s stunning tackle on Yossi Benayoun when Gerrard picked him out 18 minutes from the end. The centre- back flew over to make a crucial challenge.

Yet you sensed it was only a matter of time, and so it proved with Diop’s moment of madness and Gerrard’s clinical despatching from the spot. So a heartbreaking way for Adams’ debut as the new guv’nor to end. You could say it was enough to drive a man to drink ... or at least a strong cup of tea.