Hyypia makes his point as Liverpool struggle

Sami Hyypia, Liverpool's captain on their return to Europe's premier club competition, admitted they had to improve on their defensive display in the 1-1 home draw with Boavista if they are to make progress in the Champions' League.

Liverpool, having leaked five goals in two Premiership defeats which cost Sander Westerveld his Anfield career, were breached by the Portuguese champions within three minutes and continued to live dangerously. Gérard Houllier argued it was a team problem rather than simply the back four being found wanting, a concern shared by his defensive linchpin.

"We need to improve defensively in this competition, and domestically," Hyypia said. "It's something we'll have to work at on the training ground. We're not playing any different system from last season, when we had a very strong back line. We've had to change personnel because Markus Babbel is out, but that shouldn't be a problem."

The player filling in at left-back for Babbel, Gregory Vignal, was one of Liverpool's successes on a night when a low turn-out of 30,000 compounded the feeling of flatness. The Frenchman, 20, looks more comfortable defensively than John Arne Riise. Riise is happier as a wing-back, which Houllier tends not to favour, than as the orthodox full-back he tried to be against Aston Villa.

Alarming though some of the errors were by those supposedly protecting Liverpool's new goalkeeper, Jerzy Dudek, Houllier is likely to give equal consideration to the balance of his midfield quartet before their Group B schedule resumes with next Wednesday's visit to Borussia Dortmund.

Steven Gerrard, predictably, was more influential in a central role than on the right flank. However, Gary McAllister was somewhat marginalised in a strange wide-left berth, while Dietmar Hamann, normally an effective anchor in front of Hyypia and co, appears bereft of confidence since his club colleagues helped inflict a 5-1 defeat on his country.

Robbie Fowler's status took on a new twist, too. Last Saturday's captain remained the bench, despite Emile Heskey's laboured display and the fact that Fowler's mobility might have dragged defenders wide and at least presented the Boavista rearguard with a fresh conundrum.

Houllier claimed to be content with a point. Hyypia disagreed, saying: "Of course it's disappointing to draw at home but we were sloppy at the beginning when they got their goal."

The Finn was not surprised by Boavista's readiness to take the game to Liverpool, at least until Michael Owen cancelled out Silva's opener before the half-hour. "In this tournament," he cautioned, "every team is of high quality. We played some good sides last season in Barcelona, Roma and Porto, so it shouldn't be such a step up. The Uefa Cup suited us because it had two-leg ties but this is a league, so we must pick up points. It may actually suit us better playing away next week."

Dortmund will not, we can be fairly sure, writhe around on the turf like a Boavista team laced with Brazilians, a ploy which prevented Liverpool establishing a rhythm. "It's silly to see them going down, pretending to be hurt, then getting up and sprinting 30 seconds later," Hyypia said. "I don't like it but it's in their blood. Players are taught it from an early age in southern Europe."