Reading 1 Liverpool 1: Gerrard saves Benitez and sets up Anfield replay

02 January 2010 22:52
[LNB]On a day the FA Cup might wish to forget, there was at least a glint of the shine and sparkle the old trophy can produce at the Madejski Stadium. [LNB]Reading may be without a full-time manager, struggling in the Championship with a truly atrocious home record, yet they produced a performance in the spirit of the 139-year history of this competition. [LNB]They did at least do enough to knock Liverpool off their stride and earn a replay on Wednesday week. [LNB] Perfect start: Grzegorz Rasiak crosses for Simon Church to score for Reading[LNB]Only Steven Gerrard's equaliser denied them a victory which would have been adjudged historic in these parts. [LNB]Brian McDermott, their manager for the moment, had inspired thelikes of Jobi McAnuff, Simon Church and Jem Karacan with a zeal forvictory that rarely faltered. As a team, they worked indescribably hardand their reward will be a second chance to unsettle Rafa Benitez'steam. [LNB]'I thought we were terrific and a replay was the least we deserved,' said McDermott. [LNB]He does not know whether he will still be in charge for Anfield butif he can organise his team to play like this, he certainly should be. [LNB]Reading harried and hustled their illustrious opponents from startto finish, took the lead, stood firm after conceding an equaliser,survived the loss of their goalkeeper in the second half and might havewon the game with a spectacular strike from Gylfi Sigurdsson.[LNB] Conversely, they survived a header from Fernando Torres in addedtime which would have dashed their dreams but sailed just over. [LNB]Their task had not been an easy one as the Liverpool manager hadpaid his own homage to the grand old Cup by fielding what might beconsidered a full-strength side. [LNB] Pure joy: Simon Church celebrates after scoring his goal[LNB] [LNB]With the possibility of silverware this season rapidly diminishing, the FA Cup has assumed greater importance of late. [LNB]Benitez said: 'We know we have two clear chances to win trophies inthe FA Cup and the Europa League, and we will try to do our best inboth, while improving in the Premier League. It's really important forus to win trophies so it's important to win games like this. I'mdisappointed because we didn't want to play another game but it wastough and we needed to work hard.' [LNB]Reading took the lead after 24 minutes, largely owing to theexcellence of McAnuff, who tormented Emiliano Insua all evening. Sofrustrated did the Argentinian become that, even as early as the 23rdminute he conceded a rash free-kick close to the penalty area with apetulant kick at McAnuff and earned a yellow card. [LNB]Celebration time: Steven Gerrard is all smiles after his equaliser for Liverpool[LNB]Ryan Bertrand delivered the inswinging free-kick and though it wasoverhit, Grzegorz Rasiak stretched out a leg to pull the ball backacross the face of goal. That startled Pepe Reina but apparently not21-year-old Church, who diverted the ball in from three yards out. [LNB]'How bad must you be? We're winning at home,' crooned the delightedReading fans, who have seen one home league win in 12 this season. [LNB]When Reina was forced into a hurried mis-clearance on 27 minutes,Liverpool bore the familiar look of a lumbering giant about to beslain. [LNB]As might have been expected, Gerrard restored the equilibrium with a moment of individual brilliance. Sizingup a shooting chance around 25 yards, he unleashed his strike. Kuytrushed between defenders and although he failed to make contact, hisdecoy run did enough to confuse goalkeeper Adam Federici, as Gerrard'sshot found the corner. [LNB]Reading protested, believing Kuyt to have been offside, buttelevision proved referee Martin Atkinson and his assistant had beencorrect. [LNB]But Reading stood their ground. In fact, it was Liverpool whoconsistently conceded possession. When Sigurdsson skipped past a lamechallenge from Gerrard on 55 minutes, he unleashed a fearsome strikefrom 25 yards which Reina could merely parry to safety.[LNB] Federici limped off after 68 minutes, having damaged his hamstringwhen clearing but nervy sub Ben Hamer, 22, held out for the replay.[LNB] Reading 1 Liverpool 1: All the action as it happened from the Madejski StadiumBenitez looks to shake up Liverpool squad with Voronin among first to goLIVERPOOL FC

Source: Daily_Mail