Portsmouth will pocket £1million if Liverpool win the title thanks to a clause in the deal that took Glen Johnson to Anfield in 2009.

The League Two strugglers have twice been in administration since the transfer and their Football League status is under threat as they stand just two points above the relegation zone.

However, they are in line for an incredible windfall thanks to former chief executive Peter Storrie. He pushed for the incentive as Pompey had to give £4m of the £17m fee to Chelsea because of a sell‑on clause relating to the right-back’s move from Stamford Bridge in 2007.

Johnson joined Liverpool in the summer after they finished runners‑up to Manchester United but have since fallen out of the title picture — until this season.

Liverpool v Tottenham player ratings 28 show all Liverpool v Tottenham player ratings 1/28 Simon Mignolet - 7 Forced into a good save by Soldado’s curling shot and looked composed when called upon. GETTY 2/28 Glen Johnson - 7 Got forward well early on when his probing cross was turned in by Kaboul for Liverpool’s first GETTY 3/28 Martin Skrtel - 7 Threw himself at Eriksen’s shot midway through the first half and looked at home clearing the lines throughout the match. GETTY 4/28 Daniel Agger - 6 Worked well with Skrtel to repel Tottenham. Exposed by Soldado’s pace at one point and lucky to recover. GETTY 5/28 Jon Flanagan - 6 Confidently stroked the ball back to his keeper and tried to get forward when the time was right with mixed results. Showed his physical presence in the closing stages. GETTY 6/28 Jordan Henderson - 7 Should have done better than blaze the ball over an open goal but made up for it by scoring Liverpool’s fourth when his free-kick went all the way through. GETTY 7/28 Steven Gerrard - 7 Sat deep in midfield spreading the passes up to the front three. Deserved his ovation from the Liverpool fans. GETTY 8/28 Philippe Coutinho - 8 Given too much space by Spurs throughout the match and he made full use of it. Breath-taking finish made it 3-0 with low unstoppable shot. GETTY 9/28 Raheem Sterling - 8 Combined very well with Sturridge for a delicious one-two on the edge of the Spurs box and looked at home on the wing towards the end of the first half. 10/28 Daniel Sturridge - 7 Dangerous runs at the Spurs defence throughout the match, drew the fouls early on and linked up well with Suarez and Sterling. GETTY 11/28 Luis Suarez - 8 Almost unplayable at times, he gave Spurs’ defenders the slip at every opportunity. Scored his 29th league goal of the season with an accurate drive past Lloris. GETTY 12/28 Joe Allen - 5 Replaced Coutinho for the closing stages and kept hold of possession nicely. GETTY 13/28 Lucas - 5 Easily filled Steven Gerrard’s position when he replaced the Liverpool captain. GETTY 14/28 Victor Moses - 5 Came on for Sterling late on and didn’t have a chance to get into the game. GETTY 15/28 Hugo Lloris - 6 The 'sweeper keeper' regularly came out of his box to snuff out Liverpool long balls and was brave to go down at Suarez's feet in the area mid-way through the second half. Could do nothing about Suarez or Courtinho’s finishes and was unlucky with the first and fourth goals. Not blameless but scarcely deserved to concede four. 16/28 Kyle Naughton - 5 Sloppy throughout and failed to deal with Sterling on Liverpool’s flanks as they capitalised on Spurs’ high line. 17/28 Younes Kaboul - 4 Will be very disappointed with the own goal and his performance. Looked rattled after conceding early on and was caught in possession a number of times to allow Liverpool in behind. GETTY 18/28 Jan Vertonghen - 4 Looked tentative and uncertain when conceding a corner before he was subbed after 20 minutes due to injury. GETTY 19/28 Danny Rose - 5 Went down easily to let Sturridge in behind him before clashing with Glen Johnson. Looked like he was feeling the pressure. GETTY 20/28 Aaron Lennon - 5 Failed to make much of an inroad down the flanks but it wasn't for want of trying. GETTY 21/28 Nabil Bentaleb - 6 Skidding shot was gathered up by Mignolet and Bentaleb looked hesitant in midfield before coming off. GETTY 22/28 Gylfi Sigurdsson - 5 Tried to spread the play from deep for Spurs but was largely ineffective and was booked shortly after half-time. 23/28 Nacer Chadli - 5 Saw his wild strike fly wide in the closing stages but apart from that chance had little impact from his central role for the duration 24/28 Christian Eriksen - 6 Created Spurs’ best chance with a smart step and shot but it was blocked by Skrtel. GETTY 25/28 Roberto Soldado - 5 Did his best to press Liverpool but other than curling effort that was well saved by Mignolet, he failed to get into the game. GETTY 26/28 Michael Dawson - 4 His first touch since coming on mid-way through the first half let Suarez in for Liverpool’s first. Tried to recover with some brave blocks but couldn’t stop Liverpool’s forwards running riot. 27/28 Andros Townsend - 4 Replaced Lennon after an hour but was anonymous to the close. PA 28/28 Mousa Dembele - 5 Failed to make a significant impact on a demoralised Spurs squad. Tim Parker/PA Wire 1/28 Simon Mignolet - 7 Forced into a good save by Soldado’s curling shot and looked composed when called upon. GETTY 2/28 Glen Johnson - 7 Got forward well early on when his probing cross was turned in by Kaboul for Liverpool’s first GETTY 3/28 Martin Skrtel - 7 Threw himself at Eriksen’s shot midway through the first half and looked at home clearing the lines throughout the match. GETTY 4/28 Daniel Agger - 6 Worked well with Skrtel to repel Tottenham. Exposed by Soldado’s pace at one point and lucky to recover. GETTY 5/28 Jon Flanagan - 6 Confidently stroked the ball back to his keeper and tried to get forward when the time was right with mixed results. Showed his physical presence in the closing stages. GETTY 6/28 Jordan Henderson - 7 Should have done better than blaze the ball over an open goal but made up for it by scoring Liverpool’s fourth when his free-kick went all the way through. GETTY 7/28 Steven Gerrard - 7 Sat deep in midfield spreading the passes up to the front three. Deserved his ovation from the Liverpool fans. GETTY 8/28 Philippe Coutinho - 8 Given too much space by Spurs throughout the match and he made full use of it. Breath-taking finish made it 3-0 with low unstoppable shot. GETTY 9/28 Raheem Sterling - 8 Combined very well with Sturridge for a delicious one-two on the edge of the Spurs box and looked at home on the wing towards the end of the first half. 10/28 Daniel Sturridge - 7 Dangerous runs at the Spurs defence throughout the match, drew the fouls early on and linked up well with Suarez and Sterling. GETTY 11/28 Luis Suarez - 8 Almost unplayable at times, he gave Spurs’ defenders the slip at every opportunity. Scored his 29th league goal of the season with an accurate drive past Lloris. GETTY 12/28 Joe Allen - 5 Replaced Coutinho for the closing stages and kept hold of possession nicely. GETTY 13/28 Lucas - 5 Easily filled Steven Gerrard’s position when he replaced the Liverpool captain. GETTY 14/28 Victor Moses - 5 Came on for Sterling late on and didn’t have a chance to get into the game. GETTY 15/28 Hugo Lloris - 6 The 'sweeper keeper' regularly came out of his box to snuff out Liverpool long balls and was brave to go down at Suarez's feet in the area mid-way through the second half. Could do nothing about Suarez or Courtinho’s finishes and was unlucky with the first and fourth goals. Not blameless but scarcely deserved to concede four. 16/28 Kyle Naughton - 5 Sloppy throughout and failed to deal with Sterling on Liverpool’s flanks as they capitalised on Spurs’ high line. 17/28 Younes Kaboul - 4 Will be very disappointed with the own goal and his performance. Looked rattled after conceding early on and was caught in possession a number of times to allow Liverpool in behind. GETTY 18/28 Jan Vertonghen - 4 Looked tentative and uncertain when conceding a corner before he was subbed after 20 minutes due to injury. GETTY 19/28 Danny Rose - 5 Went down easily to let Sturridge in behind him before clashing with Glen Johnson. Looked like he was feeling the pressure. GETTY 20/28 Aaron Lennon - 5 Failed to make much of an inroad down the flanks but it wasn't for want of trying. GETTY 21/28 Nabil Bentaleb - 6 Skidding shot was gathered up by Mignolet and Bentaleb looked hesitant in midfield before coming off. GETTY 22/28 Gylfi Sigurdsson - 5 Tried to spread the play from deep for Spurs but was largely ineffective and was booked shortly after half-time. 23/28 Nacer Chadli - 5 Saw his wild strike fly wide in the closing stages but apart from that chance had little impact from his central role for the duration 24/28 Christian Eriksen - 6 Created Spurs’ best chance with a smart step and shot but it was blocked by Skrtel. GETTY 25/28 Roberto Soldado - 5 Did his best to press Liverpool but other than curling effort that was well saved by Mignolet, he failed to get into the game. GETTY 26/28 Michael Dawson - 4 His first touch since coming on mid-way through the first half let Suarez in for Liverpool’s first. Tried to recover with some brave blocks but couldn’t stop Liverpool’s forwards running riot. 27/28 Andros Townsend - 4 Replaced Lennon after an hour but was anonymous to the close. PA 28/28 Mousa Dembele - 5 Failed to make a significant impact on a demoralised Spurs squad. Tim Parker/PA Wire

Liverpool are two points ahead of second-placed Chelsea and if they win their remaining six games they will be champions for the first time since 1990.

Portsmouth refused to confirm the presence of the clause, which was revealed today by the city’s newspaper, The News.

Johnson, who has won 50 caps for England, started his career at West Ham before joining Chelsea for £6m.