- Date:2007-12-08
- Kick-off:17:15
- Venue:Madejski Stadium
- Attendance:24022
- Referee:Marriner, A
Live Commentary
90mins
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.
88mins
Bobby Convey has run himself into the ground today and he is now replaced by Leroy Lita.
86mins
Liverpool look just as lost now as they have for pretty much the entire game as yet another attack breaks down.
83mins
Voronin has endured a torrid evening and it gets no better as he wastes a superb headed opportunity.
82mins
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.
81mins
Andre Bikey is on for Ibrahima Sonko who has had a relatively easy evening.
78mins
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.
75mins
Jamie Carragher - taking on the Steven Gerrard role - drives forward to fire in a shot from the edge of the box that flashes wide.
72mins
Steven Gerrard is rather strangely coming off despite the fact they are trailing and Ryan Babel comes on. Has Benitez lost it slightly?
71mins
Harry Kewell almost gets one back with a good cross shot that nearly finds the far corner.
69mins
Peter Crouch with a great chance but he heads straight into the arms of Hahnemann from 10 yards out.
67mins
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.
66mins
Again from nowhere Gerrard almost draws Liverpool level as he smashes the ball into the cross bar.
65mins
Doyle almost makes it 3-1 as his left footed effort goes narrowly over the cross bar.
64mins
Riise has another go from range but this one is over the bar comfortably.
62mins
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.
60mins
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.
60mins
Steven Gerrard picks up the first yellow card of the game.
59mins
Liverpool fail to clear a Reading corner and Convey tries a half volley from the edge of the box which flies wide.
56mins
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.
53mins
Reading make a mess of dealing with a corner and Hobbs wastes a superb chance on his full Liverpool debut.
52mins
The ball is flying around all over the place but there is no real accuracy from either side and play is breaking down.
48mins
Liverpool have started a bit brighter although I am surprised not to see Babel or Kewell on for Crouch or Voronin.
46mins
The second period is underway here and it promises to be an interesting 45 minutes.
45mins
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.
45mins
Two minutes of added time to be played.
44mins
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.
41mins
This has been a pretty good first half because Reading haven't been afraid to have a go at the Liverpool defence.
39mins
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.
37mins
Liverpool want a penalty as Torres goes down after a challenge from Sonko but that didn't look like even a worthile appeal.
35mins
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.
32mins
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.
29mins
That goal has completely changed the pattern of the game and suddenly Liverpool look alive and fluid.
26mins
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.
25mins
Liverpool still can't find a way to get forward because there are no options.
22mins
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.
19mins
Reading coming forward again and Doyle and Kitson manufacture a chance for Convey who fires narrowly wide.
18mins
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.
15mins
GOAL:Reading 1-0 Liverpool: (15mins) Hunt converts the very controversial penalty and Reading have a lead that they probably deserve.
14mins
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.
11mins
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.
10mins
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.
8mins
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.
5mins
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.
2mins
It has not taken long for Liverpool to gain possession and start passing the ball around in the midfield.
0mins
Andre Marriner is the referee this evening and he gets us underway.
0mins
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hobbs, Riise, Gerrard, Mascherano, Sissoko, Voronin, Torres, Crouch
0mins
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Gunnarsson, Convey, Doyle, Kitson
0mins
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.
0mins
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.
0mins
Welcome to the Madejski where Reading host in-form Liverpool in a game which is vitally important to both sides.
Match Preview
Liverpool take their unbeaten Premier League record to Reading on Saturday evening as they visit a Royals side that has been solid at the Madejski Stadium so far this term.
It will be a tough task for Steve Coppell's side though as the Reds have been in tremendous form recently, scoring 21 goals in their last five matches in all competitions and conceding only one.
Rafa Benitez's side have also been better on their travels than at Anfield so far this term, taking 17 points out of 21 away from home and conceding only two goals in the process.
In contrast, 13 of the 14 points Reading have acquired this season have come at home where they have beaten Everton, Wigan Athletic, Derby County and Middlesbrough.
Defence remains Coppell's biggest headache though as his side have conceded 32 goals in their 15 league games to date and were also beaten 4-2 by Liverpool in the Carling Cup in September.
They also let in seven goals at Portsmouth and four at Blackburn Rovers but remain three points clear of the drop-zone.
Coppell has hinted that he will strengthen his squad when next month's transfer window opens and threatened to sell Leroy Lita and Nicky Shorey.
Benitez's proposed plans in January led to his recent spat with the club's American owners, but his current squad looks good enough to continue their title tilt.
The Reds should be able to count on the services of Jamie Carragher this weekend even though the defender sustained bruised ribs in Sunday's 4-0 demolition of Bolton Wanderers and Daniel Agger is close to a return as he battles back from a broken metatarsal.
Jermaine Pennant (broken leg) and Xabi Alonso (metatarsal) will once again miss out though.
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Match Report
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.
Reading Team
Liverpool Team
Reading | Liverpool |
Corners
| 7 | 7 |
Fouls
| 10 | 10 |
Goal attempts
| 8 | 15 |
Shots off target
| 3 | 8 |
Offsides
| 1 | 4 |



90mins
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.