Porto 1 Liverpool 1: Liverpool escaped with a precious point from a dreadful performance in their opening Champions League Group A clash against Porto in the Estadio Dragao.

Liverpool, particularly in the first period, were just awful and at times Porto threatened to over-run them.

The Anfield men played the final 32 minutes with 10 men after Jermaine Pennant tested the patience of referee Lubos Michel once too often with a frustrated, fractious display that cost him two yellow cards.

Porto had led early on through a Lucho Gonzalez penalty but had to thank Dirk Kuyt for a priceless header on 17 minutes.

That gave Liverpool something to cling onto, and they at least managed that level of resilience when it mattered.

As it was the heroes were the hard-working Kuyt and dependable defender Alvaro Arbeloa as Porto failed to find a way through.

Last season's beaten finalists looked a shambles in the opening period, a segment of play as bad as anything they have produced under Rafael Benitez.

They were without midfielder Xabi Alonso, who had failed to recover from an ankle problem initially sustained at Portsmouth on Saturday, and aggravated last night in training, but there was no excuse for such a disjointed spell.

The Portuguese champions were led by inspired skipper Gonzalez, a summer target of Everton, plus the exciting skills of Ricardo Quaresma who has been linked to Chelsea.

And it was the 23-year-old who almost set up a second minute Porto goal when his cross was deflected straight to Lisandro Lopez, standing six yards out and unmarked. Somehow Jose Reina got his body in the way of the instant shot.

Liverpool were under intense early pressure and another Quaresma angled effort flew just over, with Pennant fortunate not to be booked for slashing at Quaresma's legs.

Liverpool were barely in the game and a goal was inevitable. It came on eight minutes when Hyypia was slow to close down Tarik Sektioui, and Reina's challenge sent the Dutch striker to the ground. Gonzalez crashed home the penalty.

Liverpool's game was still error-strewn, but somehow they struck back on 17 minutes. Steve Finnan lifted a free-kick deep into the box where Hyypia headed back across goal for Kuyt to head home from six yards.