Reading Vs Liverpool
Saturday 9th December - Kick off 5.15 pm
FA Carling Premiership - Venue - Madejski Stadium, Reading
Reading Vs Liverpool - Seen on Satanta Sports,
Liverpool, on a role with five straight wins came to Reading ahead of big games with marseille and Machester United ahead in the next seven days. Manager Rafael Benitez tinkered with the team, maybe with those games in mind, he brough Sissoko for Lucas in midfield, brough in Vornonin to play on the right side meaning Crouch had to play on the left in a 4-5-1 formation, changes he would today regret.
Reading came into the game having lost every single game they had ever played against Liverpool, but soon started the better of the two sides, playing a high pressure game that ensure Liverpool could not get into any sort of rythmn.
A stalemate was broken on 15 minutes due to an incorrect refereeing decision. Gunnarson was brought down by Jamir Carragher just out side the box, after consulting the assistant, the ref pointed to the penalty spot. Stephen Hunt stepped up and sent Reina in the Liverpool goal the wrong way to give the home side the lead.
GOAL - 15 MINS - STEVEN HUNT (Pen) - READING 1 LIVERPOOL 0
Reading then had a 10 minute spell where they were in control. Bobby Convey hit a shot the Reina did well to save, nearly doubling the lead. Liverpool by contrast looked lost as their new system did not appear to suit them. Depite this they managed to get back into the game. After a route one kick from the keeper, Torres managed to control the ball and put it into Gerrard's path for Gerrard to equalise and get into double figures for the season.
GOAL - 28 MINS - STEVEN GERRARD - READING 1 LIVERPOOL 1
From that point Liverpool were on top, winning a series of corners, but without seriously threatening to take the lead. Voronin created a couple of long range efforts for himself but never really threatened the Reading goal and Reading with a degree of comfort held the score to 1-1 at half time.
Moving to the start of the second half Liverpool created a series of chances early on to take the lead. First Peter Crouch managed to dig out a cross that Torres got on the end of but could only put it wide. Then after a free kick debutant Jack Hobbs had a golden chance to give Liverpool the lead but put it over the bar from 6 yards out. Then Risse flashed a free kick towards goal that hit the bar, these lost chances were then to prove very costly.
Reading won a free kick which Nicky Shorey swung dangerously towards the goal. Kevin Doyle managed to get the finishing touch to give the home side the lead against the run of play.
GOAL - 60 MINS - KEVIN DOYLE - READING 2 LIVERPOOL 1
Reading then took control as a stunned Liverpool failed to recover. Suddenly Reading were quicker to the ball. Convey in particular bagan to boss the midfield and he played a key role in fashioning another chance on 67 minutes, Convey played a smart through ball to James Harper who went passed Risse and then clamly rounded Reina to slot home and send the home fans into dreamland. The first ever win over Liverpool was within reach.
GOAL - 67 MINS - JAMES HARPER - READING 3 LIVERPOOL 1
Liverpool manager Benitez, who will have many questions to answer, then responded to this crisis by taking off skipper Gerrard. This mystifying decision summed up Liveprool's miserable evening. Crouch had a chance late on after a smart cross by subsititue Kewell, but apart from that they had nothing left. Reading saw out a deserved victory, and while taking nothing away from them, Benitez tactics unquestionably had a major contribution to the result. Recently Liverpool fans showed there support for their manager in the face of criticism from the American owners, but after this, surely whether Benitez is the right man to get the best out of the talent he has must be seriously questioned.
RESULT
Reading (1) 3 (Hunt (pen) 15, Doyle 60, Harper 67)
Liverpool (1) 1 (Gerrard 28)
MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN - Bobby Convey (Reading) - Played a fine game in midfield, defended well when Reading were under pressure, a fine ball set up the third killer goal, and bossed the midfield battle with Sissoko and Gerrard playing a key part in winning the game.
