HomeZ OLD CATEGORIESLiverpool (NN)Reading 0 Liverpool 0 | Match Review & Stats

Reading 0 Liverpool 0 | Match Review & Stats

reading liverpoolReading managed to achieve a clean sheet for the first time in 10 games against Liverpool, as the match resulted in a 0-0 draw.

The home side came into the game after losing 2-0 at home to Southampton last week, while Liverpool were looking for a win after a goalless draw with West Ham United at Anfield last Sunday.

The game got off to a nervy start as Reading struggled to keep possession of the ball but still managed to prevent Liverpool from building up any sort of tempo. The Reds had the first slight chance of the game when Jordan Henderson passed the ball through the Reading defence but Luis Suarez was unable to get a shot on goal.

Despite having difficulty with getting on the ball, Reading were able to put Pepe Reina under some pressure in the Liverpool goal when Noel Hunt tried to head in a high cross, but the keeper was able to stop any threat.

The game began to open up more as Liverpool built up momentum and it wasn’t long before Philippe Coutinho was able to provide the first real chance of the match. He passed the ball across the front of the box to Suarez who was in space, before the striker chipped the ball over the oncoming Alex McCarthy. However, Chris Gunter was able to get back just in time to head the ball off the line.

Chances started to come thick and fast for the visitors with both Daniel Sturridge and Coutinho going close. The Reading defenders looked increasingly at sea and this was no more apparent after a throw in to the home side, when Gunter passed the ball directly to Sturridge. As the defenders struggled to get back, Sturridge was able to set up Suarez but McCarthy pulled off a brilliant save to deny the Uruguayan before knocking Steven Gerrard’s rebound out for a corner.

Liverpool kept looking for a goal as the half came to a close but once again, McCarthy managed to stop the best chance from Sturridge from point blank range.

Reading came out in the second half in fighting spirit and immediately made it tough for the visitors. However, Liverpool still looked more likely to score and were unlucky to have a goal disallowed not long after half time when Coutinho was deemed to be offside after back heeling the ball past McCarthy.

Reading started pushing forward and Liverpool found it hard to hold them back. Their best chance of the game came in the 65th minute when Pavel Pogrebnyak crossed the ball in low to Hunt, but Reina came out to meet him and stopped the shot from close range. Just a few minutes later, Jamie Carragher was called upon to clear a shot off the line from Danny Guthrie.

With 15 minutes to go, Reina made a fantastic save to punch Jobi McAnuff’s shot over for a corner. Back at the other end, Liverpool won a free kick about 30 yards from goal. Despite getting the ball over the wall and finally beating McCarthy, Suarez’s shot hit the post and went out for a goal kick.

As the match came into its final 10 minutes, the two teams were able to provide a performance that any neutral would be thrilled by. McCarthy was able to stop shots from Stewart Downing and Gerrard, but showed his class on the day when he caught a rifled shot from Suarez from just three yards away.

Liverpool’s day was summed up in stoppage time, when Sturridge ran through on McCarthy’s goal before firing the ball over the bar.

While the game only resulted in a draw, neutrals watching the match will surely have enjoyed the performance, and of McCarthy in particular. And while the keeper was undoubtedly the man who made the difference on the day, Liverpool will be left wondering why they can’t see out these games sooner.

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