my liverpool fc

DIRK Kuyt admitted Liverpool must find their ruthless streak in the next fortnight as they paid for missed chances in yesterday's Asia Cup.

A rare penalty shoot-out defeat brought the Hong Kong tour to a disappointing end, as Portsmouth denied Rafa Benitez's side their first silverware of the season.

Kuyt refused to be disheartened by the defeat, however, insisting there was enough promise during an encouraging overall performance.

"I feel we showed some quality and created lots of chances," said Kuyt.

"The only disappointing thing is we did not score any of them. That's what we must work on.

“But we will and hopefully it will come. I think you could see both Torres and Babel have plenty of quality and skill. The pair of them are very fast and both have great futures here.

"Ryan can play up front or on the wings, so there are lots of positions for him and Fernando is just a top striker.

"The expectations to do well at Liverpool are always really really high. That's easy to say, but the English league is one of the toughest in the world with some of the greatest players in it and that's what makes it so much more difficult.

"I know what it's like coming into a big club like Liverpool, where everyone is watching you. But we've only had two weeks or so together on the pitch. But we've got a really strong team and we are all really close.

"It's better on trips like this, because you're not only involved together out there in training and on the pitch, but off it as well.

"That means you get to know people a lot quicker than if you're just training and going home. You have a coffee together, a chat, and all those things, which really helps.

"I still think we showed some good teamwork and that will only get better - it will come. It's only the second match with Fernando and Ryan but you can see the quality.

“The only thing I would say is that we need to finish the chances but I am sure it will come. Maybe in two weeks."

Liverpool arrive back in England tomorrow to begin preparations for next week's Rotterdam tournament.