Match Report and Video: Liverpool 1-2 Reading
Liverpool crashed out of the FA Cup after losing 2-1 to Reading after extra-time following a winner for Reading by Shane Long.
Match report courtesy of Click Liverpool
Liverpool have been dumped out of the FA Cup after losing to Reading in their third round replay at Anfield.
A Ryan Bertrand own goal appeared to have secured the Reds’ progress to the next round but an injury-time penalty from Gylfi Sigurdsson took the game into extra time when Shane Long headed the Royals to a fourth-round clash with Burnley.
Going into the clash, Rafael Benitez made five changes from the side that drew at the Madejski Stadium 10 days ago as Diego Cavalieri replaced Pepe Reina in goal whilst Philipp Degen replaced Stephen Darby at right-back. Martin Skrtel had to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench as Daniel Agger partnered Jamie Carragher in central defence, whilst Fabio Aurelio was also relegated to the dugout with Yossi Benayoun retaining his place on the right-hand side of midfield.
Alberto Aquilani was restored to central midfield alongside Lucas Leiva as captain Steven Gerrard returned to his familiar role behind lone striker Fernando Torres.
Before kick-off, the 31,063 supporters inside Anfield gave new signing Maxi Rodriguez a hearty welcome after it was announced that the winger had joined the Reds on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid. The 29-year-old was given a pitch side introduction by Brian Hall.
Within three minutes of the start Liverpool signalled their intent with Steven Gerrard providing an inch-perfect cross which eluded Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun. The visitors struggled with the Reds skipper’s early advances and Jem Karacan was booked for a rash challenge made in a bid to curtail the midfielder.
Sigurdsson tested reserve stopper early with a well taken free kick that the Brazilian could only palm round the post as the Royals attempted to reward their vocal if depleted travelling support. Simon Church, who gave his side the lead in the original clach, attempted to angle a shot on goal from inside the area minutes later but Cavalieri was equal to it. Torres fired a shot wide of Adam Federici’s right-hand post from a tight angle not long after as Liverpool failed to follow Gerrard’s initial lead.
Reading continued to threaten and almost broke the deadlock after Church turned Agger inside out before teeing up Grzegorz Rasiak who almost capitalised on Carragher’s failed clearance but saw his effort fly just over Cavalieri’s crossbar. Jobi McAnuff had proved to be a handful for Liverpool’s defence during the game in Berkshire and he continued to demonstrate similar abilities as he beat Emiliano Insua with ease before firing in a low cross but Church failed to connect. Torres lasted just half an hour before being taken off due to injury and was replaced by David Ngog as the Reds failed to stamp their authority on a half that, up to that point, had been dominated by the visitors.
Five minutes before the break Benayoun fired a curling effort just wide of goal after some good work by Gerrard. A minute later Ngog darted down the left-hand side of the field, cutting past two Royals defenders but Federici saved his close-range effort with ease as Benitez’s side aimed to end the half on a positive note after a relatively dour performance. The deadlock was broken deep into first half stoppage time after Gerrard had fired a shot across goal which found its way into the net thanks to a deflection off Ryan Bertrand’s knee. However Gerrard played no further part in the match after the interval as Ryan Babel was introduced at the beginning of the second half in his place.
The advantage gave Liverpool a new lease of life in the second half with Dirk Kuyt firing a volley over the bar with his back to goal. Five minutes later Ngog and Babel linked up well but the Frenchman failed to find the target due to Reading’s kamikaze defending.
Degen, reportedly the subject of interest from VfB Stuttgart, strode through the middle of the park with real purpose as Benayoun found himself in possession out wide after a good passing exercise by the home side but once again the visiting defenders thwarted his effort.
Brian McDermott sent on Brian Howard, the scoure of Anfield when he helped Barnsley to a 2-1 win in the fifth round of the competition back in 2008, in a bid to rejuvenate his Royals side after a strong showing in the first half. Ngog was at the heart of several moves as Liverpool attempted to capitalise on their lead with Babel winning a free kick on the edge of the area after Ivar Ingimarsson obstructed him. Aquilani blasted the kick into the wall before it fell to Agger who fired just wide.
Ngog continued to terrorise the Reading defence, showing great legs against Matthew Mills which had the former England under-19 feeling the heat on more than one occasion as the home side strived for an all-important second goal. McAnuff should have pulled the Royals equal 10 minutes from time after dancing through the Liverpool defence before side-footing past Cavalieri but Jamaica international saw his effort trickle wide of the left-hand post. Church also went close with a glancing header over the bar as the game entered the final stages.
Deep in stoppage time Reading were thrown the lifeline of all lifelines as referee Phil Dowd pointed to the penalty spot after Benayoun fouled Long to hand Sigurdsson the simplest of tasks to slot home past Cavalieri from 12 yards out to take the game into extra time. Benitez switched Carragher to right-back and used his final substitute as Degen was replaced by Skrtel at the start of the half-hour.
A frantic start to the first half of extra time saw both teams threwaten, notably McAnuff for the visitors. Babel managed to angle a shot on goal after Insua had been dispossessed in Reading’s penalty area with McAnuff struggling to test Cavalieri at the other end. Moments later, poor defending by Liverpool allowed Long to head home a Bryn Gunnarsson cross with ease to give Reading the lead.
“We’re just too good for you” the Reading fans crowed.as their team aimed to build on their lead and provide the biggest giant killing escapade of the round following Leeds United’s win away to Manchester United nine days ago with Benitez’s side appeared unable to offer a reply. Benayoun spurned a golden opportunity to level the score when he beat the offside trap but failed to lift the ball beyond Federici at the end of the half. The Kop were left infuriated as Dowd overlooked Sigurdsson’s bear hug on Aquilani in the area as Liverpool nervously pressed for an equaliser to take the game to penalties.
Ngog wasted a good opportunity from close range when he scuffed a shot wide of the post. Minutes later Kuyt also went close but failed to beat Federici with a low effort as Reading cruised into the fourth round. Lucas blazed a header wide from close range but was ruled offside by the linesman.
A chorus of boos rang out of Anfield as McDermott’s players celebrated a fantastic scalp whilst Benitez’s troops were forced to face up to the reality of the Europa League and a fourth-placed finish in the league.
Final score: Liverpool 1-2 Reading (AET)
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Cavalieri, Degen (Skrtel), Agger, Carragher, Insua, Benayoun, Lucas, Aquilani, Kuyt, Gerrard (Babel), Torres (Ngog). Subs not used: Gulacsi, Aurelio, Spearing.
Reading (4-4-2): Federici, Cisse (Howard), Mills, Gunnarsson, McAnuff, Ingimarsson, Karacan, Bertrand, Sigurdsson (Long), Rasiak (Kebe) Church. Subs not used: Hamer, Tabb, Matejovsky, Pearce.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Attendance: 31,063
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we are totaly out this season ..reshuffle back the team before its too late
embarassing…i can’t take it anymore…RAFA OUT!
hahha liverpool
they are losers
We will keep working hard for the next match, these are as usual words from Rafa and we will still lose the next match. For sure no silverware this season. How will we compete in the Europa league when we can’t beat Reading which is struggling in the CHAMPIONSHIP!! No more excuses Rafa! You have to go, please!
I feel sorry for banayoun unluky we we did everything is just that allah did say that we going to win is ok let’s hope we can stoke game an torres and steve can recover
[VIVI from Riviere du Rempart, Mauritius] you took the words out my mouth! after every game rafa says the same old script. (we will concentrate and work hard for the next game) im sure he must have that pre-recorded before each game!
it is time for rafa to step down and time for king kenny to step in.
shocking .. and unlucky .. i dont know how to describe this … unlucky because of the last min penalty and both stevie and torres out with injuries … shocking because .. we are liverpool and as VIVI said Reading are struggling in the championship . we are england’s best club and we have to prove it on the pitch which we have failed to do this season .. saddens me :(