• Date: Sat 15 March 2008
  • Venue: Anfield
  • Ref: Marriner, A
  • Attendance: 43,524
Liverpool

Liverpool

Mascherano (19)

Torres (48)

2 - 1
Reading

Reading

Matejovsky (5)

Liverpool vs Reading

Team Lineups

Liverpool

Jose Manuel Reina
Alvaro Arbeloa
Fabio Aurelio
Martin Skrtel
Jamie Carragher
Steven Gerrard (Sami Hyypia, 90)
Javier Mascherano
Xabi Alonso
Ryan Babel (John Arne Riise, 83)
Dirk Kuyt (Yossi Benayoun, 80)
Fernando Torres

Reading

Marcus Hahnemann
Liam Rosenior
Ivar Ingimarsson
Andre Bikey
Nicky Shorey
Stephen Hunt
John Oster (Jimmy Kebe, 72)
Marek Matejovsky (Kalifa Cisse, 74)
James Harper
Kevin Doyle
Shane Long (Dave Kitson, 63)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

It's all over, Liverpool have been made to work hard, but they come away with all three points.

94
Substitution
 

Gerrard is replaced by Sami Hyypia.

92

Martin Skrtel wipes out Kitson to give Reading a free kick, which falls to Kitson who is only prevented by a fantastic block by Gerrard.

90

Four minutes of added time are announced, can Reading get a late equaliser?

89

Alonso's effort from outside the area fails to trouble the keeper, Benitez will be annoyed that he attempted such an effort at this stage of the game.

89

Liverpool are playing keep ball now, Reading need to do something if they are to get themselves an equaliser which they feel they will deserve.

87
Yellow Card
 

Cisse is booked for fouling Torres.

87

There is no sign of such a chance as yet, with Liverpool's defence standing firm.

84

Reading are bound to have one more chance in the remaining few minutes, it's just a matter of taking it when it comes along.

83
Substitution
 

The impressive Babel is replaced by John Arne Riise to give Liverpool's line up a more defensive look.

81
Substitution
 

Yossi Benayoun replaces Kuyt for Liverpool as Rafael Benitez looks to make sure of the three points.

81

Gerrard is involved in the action again, but his strike fails to test Hahnemann in the Reading goal.

79
Yellow Card
 

It's a yellow card for Bikey, that seems somewhat harsh.

78

Gerrard bursts forward for Liverpool, but is brough down by Andre Bikey who seems angry with Gerrard for going down too easily.

78

Great run from Harper launches another Reading attack, but Skrtel does well to clear the danger. Reading are going for broke now, will it pay off?

76

Outstanding defending by Jamie Carragher prevents Doyle equalising for Reading, he seemed certain to score before the defender's intervention.

74
Substitution
 

Reading's final change of the game sees Matejovsky replaced by Kalifa Cisse.

73

Great chance for Liverpool to extend their lead falls to Torres, but Hahnemann makes a great save to keep his side in the game.

72
Substitution
 

Oster is replaced by Jimmy Kebe for Reading.

72

As we move into the last twenty minutes, Reading will be happy enough to still only be 2-1 down. The crowd will get nervous and the away side could capitalise on it.

71

Doyle does well to emerge with the ball after being surrounded by three Liverpool players, but his pass can't find his striker partner Kitson.

69

Speaking of Hahnemann, he is the only Reading player to have been involved in every minute of their Premiership games this season.

66

Gerrard's shot from outside the area almost finds it way into the back of the net via a deflection, but Hahnemann collects the ball.

65
Yellow Card
 

It's a booking for Ivar Ingimarsson for pulling down Gerrard.

64

Kitson is actually Reading's leading scorer this season, with nine Premier League goals.

63
Substitution
 

Dave Kitson replaces the hard working Long for Reading.

63

Babel's first involvement of the half is to run at Rosenior once again, before unleashing a powerful strike just over the bar. Maybe he should have gone for placement there.

61

As long as the game stays 2-1, Reading are still in with a shout - they will need to remain positive.

59
Yellow Card
 

Shane Long is booked for a challnege from behind.

58

It's worth noting that by scoring today, Torres has become the first Liverpool player to score 20 Premier League goals in a season since Robbie Fowler did so in 1996.

56

Fabio Aurelio's corner finds the unmarked Kuyt who headers wide. Reading's marking is leaving a lot to be desired.

55

Gerrard has a heart in mouth moment as his back pass is almost cut out by Shane Long before reaching Reina.

54

Reading are struggling to hold onto the ball when they get it, some sloppy passing is allowing Liverpool more possession.

52

A chance for Reading to equalise is restricted by Martin Skrtel who does well to block Rosenior's path to goal.

51

Reading need to respond quickly, otherwise you can see Liverpool extending their lead as they are playing some great football now.

49

That was sloppy defending by Reading, Torres was completley unmarked in the box.

48
Goal
 

From the resulting free kick, Gerrard swings the ball in and it is headed home by Torres to give Liverpool the lead.

47

Fantastic run from Torres is stopped by a clumsy challenge from Rosenior.

47

If Reading start the second half as well as they did the first then you would back them to take the lead at Anfield today.

Second half
 

The second half is upon us, can either side find a winning goal?

Half time
 

That's half time with the sides remaining all square with one goal a piece.

45

Oster's error gives the ball away to Alonso, who blasts a shot over the bar, that was a great effort though and would have been a stunning goal.

45

A Liverpool corner is taken by Aurelio and falls to Martin Skrtel at the edge of the area, who sees his effort fly over the bar. That was a defender strike!

44

Steve Coppell will definetly want half term to come as soon as possible, Liverpool are threatening to get a second goal.

42

Oster plays Matejovsky through, but his ambitious effort goes miles wide. Although after his goal, you can't blame him for having a go at goal.

39

Liverpool are having the majority of possession now, with two successive corners cleared by Reading. They will want to get to half time level here.

38

Torres runs at the Reading defence for the first time, but a great challenge from the goalscorer Matejovsky wins the ball back for Reading.

37

Free kick for the away side is taken by Shorey, but his cross is headed away by Liverpool who hit Reading on the break, resulting in a Babel shot winning a corner.

35

Babel is really testing Rosenior in the right back position, but so far the defender is standing firm - despite Babel's quality and menace.

33

Nice passage of play from the home side results in Kuyt blasting the ball over from close range, he holds his head in frustration - should have scored that one.

32

Dirk Kuyt charges forward for Liverpool, but great defending from Rosenior prevents him finding Gerrard with his pass.

30

It's Babel again causing problems for Reading, he cuts inside before unleashing a powerful strike which Hahnemann saves well with the ball destined for the top corner.

29

The game has settled down slightly in the last few minutes, with the crowd waiting to be entertained by their team.

28

Babel threatens again from the left hand side, but his strike is dragged wide of the post - he is looking on top of his game though and high on confidence.

27

Torres claims he was fouled by Ivar Ingimarsson, but the referee waves away any protests. The striker is yet to get too involved in the game.

26

Liverpool will be wanting to make sure they win today, as drawing too many games has cost them any title challenge. They have drawn 11 games in the league, only matched by Fulham.

24

Free kick for Liverpool is taken by Aurelio, but his chipped effort is cleared easily by the Reading defence. He should of made more of such a good opportunity.

22

Going back to Mascherano's goal, Steve Coppell will be annoyed at how much time his defenders gave the midfielder on the ball.

21

Babel does well down the right hand side as Liverpool search for a quick second goal, the winger is matched by Liam Rosenior who defends solidly.

19
Goal
 

It's the equaliser for Liverpool as Javier Mascherano smashes the ball home from 20 yards out - great strike.

19

Matejovsky is causing all sorts of problems for the home side, his fantastic through ball this time almost sets Oster clear on goal. He's having a great game.

18

Gerrard turns and shoots from just outside the area shaves the cross bar, by his standards he would have expected to hit the target there.

16

Reading are on course for their third consecutive league victory here, they haven't achieved three wins of the trot since April 2007.

15

Reina's punched clearance from an Oster corner falls to James Harper on the edge of the area, but his effort is scuffed wide and goes out for a throw in. Awful attempt.

13

Fantastic through ball from Gerrard sets Fernando Torres through on goal, but Hahnemann does enough to put off the striker and clear the danger.

12

It's been an extremely high tempo start to the game, not many teams have come to Anfield and started as well as Reading have today.

11

Ryan Babel wins a corner for the home side, but the set piece is wasted by Gerrard as they look for an equaliser.

10

Xabi Alonso floats the ball into the box and his effort almosts finds the back of the net, but it just avades the cross bar with Marcus Hahnemann struggling off his line.

8

That effort has certainly stunned the Anfield crowd, they wouldn't have banked on going behind. However, there is a long way to go yet for Liverpool to get back into it.

7

Matejovsky almost doubled the lead straight away, his shot just missing the target. Reading have started superbly.

5
Goal
 

Marek Matejovsky scores a stunning strike from 25 yards to give Reading a shock lead, what a fantastic goal that was!

4

Stephen Hunt bursts down the right hand side on a mazy run, only stopped by a poor challenge from Alvaro Arbeloa.

3

It's a lively start to the game, very end to end. Only a poor cross from John Oster prevents Reading testing Jose Manuel Reina in the Liverpool goal.

2

Liverpool are the form team of the Premiership, they have won every game since being knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley.

1

It's a positive start for Reading as Kevin Doyle worries the Liverpool defence within the first minute. Casual start from the hosts.

Kickoff
 

Underway at Anfield, with Liverpool searching for a fifth consecutive league win against a Reading side chasing their 25th Premier League win under Steve Coppell.