EPL: Reading 3-1 Liverpool (08.12.07)

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool travel to Reading on Saturday evening as the Reds look to stretch a run of five consecutive victories.

Rafa Benitez's side have recorded five straight successes in all competitions after wins against Bolton, Porto, Newcastle, Fulham and Besiktas.

Liverpool will be keen to stretch their winning streak, but Reading will be looking to avenge their 4-2 Carling Cup defeat to the Reds in September.

The cup clash at the Madejski was a physical encounter with Liverpool especially critical of the treatment handed out to captain Steven Gerrard and star striker Fernando Torres.

Competitive

While Reading manager Steve Coppell defends his side's approach, he will be hoping his side can produce a competitive performance at the weekend.

Coppell, though, will be without defender Michael Dubbery. The centre-back has returned to training after a rib injury, but is not match fit.

John Oster will also be missing for Reading as he is facing surgery on his ongoing ankle problem.

Glen Little is also unavailable for the Royals as he continues an Achilles injury enforced spell on the sidelines.

Consistent

Benitez is not one to stick with a consistent first XI, but expect Torres - who started in last weekend's 4-0 win over Bolton - to start after the Spaniard ripped Reading apart as he fired a hat-trick in the cup victory earlier in the season.

Jamie Carragher should be fit to continue his central defence partnership with Sami Hyypia, despite being forced off in the victory against Bolton with a rib problem.

Benitez has revealed Daniel Agger, Xabi Alonso and Fabio Aurelio are close to returning after injury absences, but the trio are unlikely to start against Reading.

Source: Skysports

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool Team:
Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Hobbs, Riise; Gerrard, Mascherano, Sissoko, Voronin; Torres, Crouch

Subs:
Itandje, Hyypiä, Kewell, Kuyt, Babel

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Reading Team:
Hahnemann, Murty, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Shorey, Gunnarsson, Harper, Hunt, Convey, Doyle, Kitson

Subs:
Federici, Bikey, Cisse, Lita, Long

[Podolski]

babel should get a start soon

[Mighty T.A.L.]

1-1 half time.

Hunt scored on penalty kick. Gerrard equalised for Liverpool.

[Dellas]

3-1 Reading

Harper and Doyle

Doyle headed in a gd free kick

Harper went past Reina and scored....terrible defending by Liverpool for this goal.


Torres off for Kewell...apparently torres is injured..not sure tho

[Doc-Bhoy]

Gerrard off for Babel, dont think he is injured so a very strange decision.

[Dellas]

Originally Posted by Doc-Bhoy

Gerrard off for Babel, dont think he is injured so a very strange decision.

what is Benitez doing...if he wants to win/draw take of sissoko...not Gerrard

[Podolski]

babel can score.. although gerrard should stay on.
if it finishes like this.. embarassing result..

[Doc-Bhoy]

what is Benitez doing...if he wants to win/draw take of sissoko...not Gerrard

Seemingly this was always the plan, take Gerrard off.

Strange, especially when your side is 3-1 down.

[Dellas]

Originally Posted by Podolski

babel can score.. although gerrard should stay on.

exactly my point

get rid of a dm like sissoko but keep on your talismanic captain, who can score goals when his team needs him

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Gerrard became subbed off with an injury problem.

[hijjawi1]

X

Goals (HQ)

0-1 Hunt (Min 16) [Goal + Challenge led to the Penalty] Click Here for Video

1-1 Gerrard (Min 27) Click Here for Video

1-2 Doyle (Min 59) Click Here for Video

1-3 Harper (Min 66) Click Here for Video

Chances (HQ)

Torres Chance (Min 7) Click Here for Video

Voronin Skills and Shoot (Min 42) Click Here for Video

Riise Freekick (Min 54) Click Here for Video

[Werdna]

Quite funny...

Reading gets a penalty that was so obviosuly outside of the box it was ridiculous.
Liverpool had three genuine penalty claims ignored and nothing anywhere in the press. If that had been ManU, Chelsea or Arsenal half the papers and the managers would be talking conspiracy!

[NJ10]

So disappointing to lose like that. Lets not bring the referee into this, the players were to blame. Carragher was clumsy to give the referee a decision to make, he only had to shepherd Gunnarsson out wide but he dived in. Silly mistake.

We just didnt play well throughout, Riise, Voronin & Sissoko were the worst offenders. I think Riise & Sissoko will be lucky to be at this club next season. They just arent good enough in my opinion, cant fault their work ethic or commitment, but what do they add to the side really? There are so many better left backs in the Premiership than Riise, and i think every top half side (and some bottom half sides) have a better central midfielder than Sissoko. Its a relief when he manages to ferry the ball to a Red shirt, because it is so rare. Riise is better at keeping the ball, but in terms of useful possession, his trick seems to be either a 40 yard strike at goal (one in a hundred will find its way in), or a long punt upfield in the vague direction of Crouch. I dont think Aurelio or Arbeloa are world class, but fuck me they are better than him, so was Warnock who we let go to Blackburn.

Anyway, the substitutions did look surprising of course but we do have a massive game on Tuesday night, a game we simply HAVE to win. Torres had an ankle knock so he came off, Gerrard was getting frustrated at 3-1 and it was a calculated decision (id rather have seen Sissoko go off of course but i could understand the decision).

Ah well, it aint the end of the world. First defeat of the season, got a massive ten days coming up, Marseille on Tuesday- fly out tomorrow tea time and im a bit worried about there being trouble- United on Sunday (cant afford a defeat) and Chelsea away in the Carling Cup QF next week, big three games that could make or break our season.