Liverpool struggle to draw at Reading
Liverpool clung on to a 1-1 draw against Reading in an absorbing FA Cup third round tie at the Madejski Stadium.
The Championship strugglers more than matched their illustrious visitors, and opened the scoring through Simon Church before Steven Gerrard’s 36th-minute equaliser. Neither side could conjure a winner and the consequence is a replay at Anfield for a place in the last 32.
Having suffered an early Champions League exit and fallen out of Premier League contention, the FA Cup remains one of two competitions Rafa Benitez’s side can realistically win this season - along with the Europa League.
Benitez’s team selection reflected the Cup’s importance, as he fielded a full-strength side featuring twin talismen Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
However it was Reading, who have won just once at home in 12 attempts this season in the Championship, who started the stronger.
Jobi McAnuff had the ball in the net on 14 minutes when he returned a half-cleared set piece, but the goal was disallowed for an infringement by Gregor Rasiak, who was impeding goalkeeper Pepe Reina while in an offside position.
On 22 minutes Gylfi Sigurdsson then went down inside the Liverpool box with Martin Skrtel appearing to grab his shirt, but referee Martin Atkinson said no foul.
Two minutes later, Reading were in front thanks to Liverpool’s continued inability to defend set pieces properly.
The excellent Ryan Bertrand, on loan from Chelsea, swung a corner to the back post where Rasiak hooked it across goal and Church shinned the ball in from a couple of yards. No more than the home side deserved.
Liverpool responded well, taking a proper foothold and letting their superior class tell. Torres flashed a header wide from a Dirk Kuyt cross - only a half-chance but a surprising miss given the striker’s quality.
Gerrard equalised on 36 minutes with a ball into the box intended for Kuyt, whose late run beat the offside trap. The Dutchman did not get a touch, but his presence meant Adam Federici could not commit himself and his dive was delayed long enough for the ball to elude his grasp and find the right corner.
The visiting skipper flashed a volley over, before Torres saw a deft flick clawed away by Federici then Fabio Aurelio shot wide from the edge of the box. It was all Liverpool, but the half-time whistle came to Reading’s rescue.
Having looked comfortable, Liverpool surrendered the initiative by passing the ball sloppily and defending edgily - the lively McAnuff gave Emiliano Insua a torrid time.
Sigurdsson slalomed inside from the left past two challenges and stung Reina’s hands from 25 yards, while McAnuff was unlucky not to win a free-kick when brought down 25 yards from goal.
As time ticked down, Reading looked the likelier winners, while Liverpool clearly had their minds on the sanctuary of Anfield.
However, an injury forced Federici off, and his replacement Ben Hamer gifted the visitors two big chances.
The first saw Liverpool scramble the ball in after Hamer failed to claim a corner, but fouls by Kuyt and Skrtel offered Reading a reprieve.
Then, in stoppage time. The goalkeeper was in no man’s land when Torres met a Yossi Benayoun cross, but his headed looped onto the top of the net. — Eurosport
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