Reading 3 - 1 Liverpool

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Saturday Dec 08 2007 05:15

Liverpool slipped to their first Premier League defeat of the season as Reading battled to a priceless win at the Madejski Stadium.

Second-half strikes from Kevin Doyle and James Harper secured the Royals their first win in five league outings after Steven Gerrard had cancelled out Stephen Hunt's first-half penalty.

Liverpool had two valid penalty claims turned down and saw Gerrard and Peter Crouch hit the woodwork as Reading enjoyed the rub of the green.

But the home side earned their good fortune with a resolute display that deservedly saw them avenge a 4-2 Carling Cup defeat at the same ground earlier this season.

The luck that Reading enjoyed surfaced first as they made a 16th minute breakthrough.Brynjar Gunnarsson latched on to Bobby Convey's first-time pass and drove past Jamie Carragher into the Liverpool penalty area and the defender reacted too slowly as he clattered the midfielder.

It was a clear foul and, although replays suggested contact was just outside the box, Liverpool could have few complaints that referee Andre Marriner's instant reaction was to agree with his linesman in awarding a penalty.

Hunt calmly sent Jose Reina the wrong way from the spot for his second goal of the season, but Liverpool predictably reacted with menace as their unbeaten league record came under real threat.

They were level on 28 minutes when Torres chested down a long punt forward from Reina and rolled the ball into the path of the previously anonymous Gerrard, who escaped the attentions of Hunt and took one touch to set himself up before stroking past Marcus Hahnemann.

The visitors could have been in front before the break had referee Marriner spotted Ibrahima Sonko's clip on Torres' ankle in the penalty area and they saw more penalty claims waved away early in the second half when the same man got the faintest of touches on the ball as he tangled with Torres.

But the game truly turned Reading's way on the hour after Gerrard was booked for a foul on Hunt and Nicky Shorey's resulting free-kick was flicked home by Doyle.

Doyle thumped a shot on the turn just over and Gerrard's dipping shot smacked against the crossbar before Reading made the game safe midway through the second half.

Doyle found Convey tight on the left wing and his pass sent Harper clear with the midfielder neatly side-stepping Reina before clipping home a neat finish.

With a must-win Champions League game with Marseille to come in midweek followed by a Premier League showdown with Manchester United next weekend, Rafa Benitez effectively threw in the towel as he withdrew Torres, Gerrard and Carragher in the second half.

Crouch hit a low drive against a post in stoppage time, but that was as close as the Reds came to mounting any sort of comeback.

Live Commentary

90
FT:Reading 3-1 Liverpool: A superb win from Reading and one they fully deserved. Liverpool were atrocious from start to finsih and the Royals took advantage.

90
Time is running out for Liverpool but Reading seem to have clinched the points now,although Crouch almost sets up a dramatic finish as his right foot shot hits a post.

88
Bobby Convey has run himself into the ground today and he is now replaced by Leroy Lita.

86
Liverpool look just as lost now as they have for pretty much the entire game as yet another attack breaks down.

83
Voronin has endured a torrid evening and it gets no better as he wastes a superb headed opportunity.

82
In another rather ridiculous change when chasing a game, Jamie Carragher is replaced by Sami Hyypia as Benitez appears to have given up on the game.

81
Andre Bikey is on for Ibrahima Sonko who has had a relatively easy evening.

78
Liverpool need a goal soon if they are going to get back in this but they are arguably there two most likely scorers now in Gerrard and Torres.

75
Jamie Carragher - taking on the Steven Gerrard role - drives forward to fire in a shot from the edge of the box that flashes wide.

72
Steven Gerrard is rather strangely coming off despite the fact they are trailing and Ryan Babel comes on. Has Benitez lost it slightly?

71
Harry Kewell almost gets one back with a good cross shot that nearly finds the far corner.

69
Peter Crouch with a great chance but he heads straight into the arms of Hahnemann from 10 yards out.

67
GOAL:Reading 3-1 Liverpool: (67mins) Unbelievable stuff! The Liverpool defence are all over the place as Harper rounds Reina and slots the ball home to give Reading a two goal lead.

66
Again from nowhere Gerrard almost draws Liverpool level as he smashes the ball into the cross bar.

65
Doyle almost makes it 3-1 as his left footed effort goes narrowly over the cross bar.

64
Riise has another go from range but this one is over the bar comfortably.

62
Fernando Torres has been Liverpool's best player but he picked up a knock a minute ago and is off to be replaced by Harry Kewell.

60
GOAL:Reading 2-1 Liverpool: (61mins) Shorey whips in a free kick from the touchline and it bounces all the way in the back of the net.

60
Steven Gerrard picks up the first yellow card of the game.

59
Liverpool fail to clear a Reading corner and Convey tries a half volley from the edge of the box which flies wide.

56
Gerrard taps a free-kick for Riise to try one of his long range blasts and Hahnemann makes a good save to palm it away.

53
Reading make a mess of dealing with a corner and Hobbs wastes a superb chance on his full Liverpool debut.

52
The ball is flying around all over the place but there is no real accuracy from either side and play is breaking down.

48
Liverpool have started a bit brighter although I am surprised not to see Babel or Kewell on for Crouch or Voronin.

46
The second period is underway here and it promises to be an interesting 45 minutes.

45
HT:Reading 1-1 Liverpool: A very good first half comes to a close and Liverpool have looked very disjointed for long spells and Reading have attacked them well.

45
Two minutes of added time to be played.

44
Reading have done very well so far and actually looked relatively comfortable and but for that mistake from Sonko then they would probably have the lead still.

41
This has been a pretty good first half because Reading haven't been afraid to have a go at the Liverpool defence.

39
Arbeloa this time drives to the edge of the area and plays Voronin in and he shoots but it rather sums up his half as he finds the side netting when an easy pass was on.

37
Liverpool want a penalty as Torres goes down after a challenge from Sonko but that didn't look like even a worthile appeal.

35
Even though the rest look a little flat at times Torres is causing no end of problems for the Reading back four when he gets hold of the ball.

32
After a short burst of activity Liverpool have gone back to looking a little bemused by their system and they go from a throw in in the Reading corner all the way back to Reina in two pases.

29
That goal has completely changed the pattern of the game and suddenly Liverpool look alive and fluid.

26
GOAL:Reading 1-1 Liverpool: (26mins) From absolutely nowhere Torres and Gerrard combine for the latter to finish beautifully to equalise and continue his run of superb form.

25
Liverpool still can't find a way to get forward because there are no options.

22
Andriy Voronin looks totally lost on the right wing - where is Ryan Babel? While has Peter Crouch ever been a left winger? Benitez's tactics are baffling at best at the moment.

19
Reading coming forward again and Doyle and Kitson manufacture a chance for Convey who fires narrowly wide.

18
Rafa Benitez has three strikers on the pitch but they all look a little confused as to where they are supposed to be playing and the visitors looks very disjointed.

15
GOAL:Reading 1-0 Liverpool: (15mins) Hunt converts the very controversial penalty and Reading have a lead that they probably deserve.

14
Shorey plays it up field and Convey flicks it on and Gunnarsson goes down under the challenge of Carragher and the referee has given a penalty kick, although it appeared to be well outside.

11
Brynjar Gunnarsson gets into the right hand channel and puts a clever cross into the box and Hobbs does well to head it behind because Doyle was waiting to pounce.

10
Reading cannot really get their foot on the ball at the moment and they will need to start soon before Liverpool can find their real stride.

8
Although Liverpool have arguably had the better of the opening stages they have not done anything in the final third and Reading will be pleased so far.

5
Liverpool come forward menacingly and Crouch finds Gerrard who tries to flick it through for Torres but makes a hash of it to the crowd's amusement.

2
It has not taken long for Liverpool to gain possession and start passing the ball around in the midfield.

0
Andre Marriner is the referee this evening and he gets us underway.

0
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hobbs, Riise, Gerrard, Mascherano, Sissoko, Voronin, Torres, Crouch

0
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Gunnarsson, Convey, Doyle, Kitson

0
Liverpool meanwhile are scoring from all angles lately and Fernando Torres is re-finding the form with which he began the season so they will be a constant danger. Also young defender Jack Hobbs plays alongside Jamie Carragher in defence.

0
Reading's form has begun to improve lately but late goals have been the problem for them in recent weeks and they will hope to avoid the same fate again today.

0
Welcome to the Madejski where Reading host in-form Liverpool in a game which is vitally important to both sides.

Statistics

Reading

Shots on target	5
Shots off target	3
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	10
Offsides	1
Corners	7

Liverpool

Shots on target	5
Shots off target	8
Shots off bar/post	2
Fouls	10
Offsides	4
Corners	7

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