The towering midfielder gave away a bizarre 75th-minute penalty when he inexplicably clambered over Sami Hyypia to slam dunk the ball.

Steven Gerrard subsequently stepped up to net the spot-kick and seal a 1-0 defeat for new boss Tony Adams.

It was what Adams described as a 'moment of madness' from Diop which ultimately ended any hopes of a fairy tale Liverpool result.

The ex-Fulham man was also the guilty party when he planted a free header from six-yards out straight at Pepe Reina during the first half for Pompey's best chance.

But afterwards, Adams was in no mood to start pointing the finger of blame, regardless of the losing start to his new Blues job.

He said: 'I didn't ask Papa what he did. I spoke to him about it but I certainly didn't blame him.

'In my opinion – and I gave him my opinion – I think big Sami (Hyypia) got away from him, he got a yard on him, and he panicked.

'Next time he's still got to get it past England's number one – get your body in there, pull him off and then there's no problem.

'I've been doing the technical bit with him rather than throwing teacups.

'That's how I do things.

'You see, one moment of madness costs you in a place like this, it happens.

'I remember coming here as an Arsenal player and good, old Ray Parlour had his first game and gave away a penalty.

'It costs you and you lose the game and you go home with nothing.'

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