Match Report
| Liverpool | Liverpool |  |  | Reading | Reading | ||||||||||||||||
| Kevin Murphy | Kevin Murphy | Aleksandar Nikolov | Aleksandar Nikolov | ||||||||||||||||||
| Diego Peralta | D. Peralta |  | 84 | G |  |  | 1 | | G | 79 |  | Vegard Soltvedt | V. Soltvedt | ||||||||
| Philip Lassiter | P. Lassiter |  | 81 | D |  | 2 |  | D | 75 |  | Oliver Birkwald | O. Birkwald | |||||||||
| Del Drake | D. Drake |  | 76 | D | | 3 | | D | 80 | | Adam Vassell | A. Vassell | |||||||||
| Neil Hitchcock | N. Hitchcock | | 79 | D | | 4 | | D | 76 |  | Martin Boban | M. Boban | |||||||||
| Damien Allman | D. Allman | | 81 | D | | 5 | | M | 85 | | Scott Mccann | S. Mccann | |||||||||
| Vicente Velasco | V. Velasco |  | 81 | M | | 6 | | M | 80 | | David Lawton | D. Lawton | |||||||||
| Branko Damman | B. Damman |  | 84 | M | | 7 | | M | 87 | | Stephen Mendez | S. Mendez | |||||||||
| Rio Burgess | R. Burgess | | 78 | M | | 8 | | M | 79 | | Ian Fenton | I. Fenton | |||||||||
| Adam Beckham | A. Beckham | | 75 | A | | 9 | | | A | 84 |  | Antonio Bento | A. Bento | ||||||||
| Alan Merson | A. Merson | | 84 | A | | 10 | | A | 79 | | Helder Lopes | H. Lopes | |||||||||
| Joe Campbell | J. Campbell | | 79 | A | | 11 | | A | 83 | | Duarte Moutinho | D. Moutinho | |||||||||
| Nigel Grondin | N. Grondin | | 72 | A | | 12 | | D | 73 | | David Kirkland | D. Kirkland | |||||||||
| André Romo | A. Romo | | 73 | M | | 13 | | M | 78 |  | Diego Di Cara | D. Di Cara | |||||||||
| Marvin Copping | M. Copping | | 73 | M | | 14 | | A | 78 | | John Bishop | J. Bishop | |||||||||
 today's match is sponsored by LJs |
Match Report
An overcast sky looms overhead here at Anfield where Liverpool play host to Reading. Its a sell-out today with the 21,000 capacity stadium completely full.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Liverpool are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Reading appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Billy Boateng.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Liverpool are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Reading appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Billy Boateng.
0.00
0-0Reading kick off the first half!
2.07
0-0Rio Burgess threads a neat ball through to Branko Damman. Branko Damman whips in a cross ball towards Alan Merson. Alan Merson gets a glancing touch on the cross ball. Solid save from Vegard Soltvedt. What a great pair of hands!
3.54
0-0Adam Vassell comes in with a late challenge on Branko Damman. Adam Vassell is shown the yellow card! Branko Damman stretches but gets up unharmed.
9.45
1-0Philip Lassiter kicks a strong pass forward to Rio Burgess. Rio Burgess sees Adam Beckham in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Adam Beckham lofts in a cross ball towards Alan Merson. Alan Merson connects with a diving header. Vegard Soltvedt is helpless! The ball slams into the back of the net - goal!!
12.14
Neil Hitchcock knocks the ball forward to Rio Burgess. Rio Burgess lofts in a cross ball towards Joe Campbell. Joe Campbell whips the ball goalwards with his head. Solid save from Vegard Soltvedt. What a great pair of hands!
18.43
1-0With great vision, Adam Vassell plays the ball forward to David Lawton. David Lawton threads a neat ball through to Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho flicks a high pass forward. Helder Lopes controls it well on his chest and turns goalwards. Helder Lopes shoots from just inside the box but it flies wide!
21.53
1-0With some swift thinking, Stephen Mendez plays the ball forward to Antonio Bento. Antonio Bento knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Del Drake.
22.03
Martin Boban controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, David Lawton. David Lawton threads a neat ball through to Stephen Mendez. Stephen Mendez finds some space and shoots from distance. Diego Peralta gets down and covers it.
24.07
Stephen Mendez flicks a high pass forward to David Lawton who brings the ball under control. David Lawton knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
26.53
Stephen Mendez hits a low pass to Antonio Bento. Antonio Bento shoots from outside the area but connects badly and the ball goes wide!
28.07
Rio Burgess passes the ball forward to Adam Beckham. Adam Beckham shoots from 25 yards but he skews it badly. The ball flies well over the bar!
32.26
Rio Burgess sees Adam Beckham in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Adam Beckham cuts inside the box! Adam Beckham shows great control and tries a shot on goal but it flies just wide!
33.02
David Lawton flicks the ball to his team mate, Helder Lopes. Helder Lopes tries a spectacular long range effort but it is tipped over by Diego Peralta.
34.30
1-0Corner kick to Reading. Stephen Mendez plays it to the far post. Some silky footwork from Martin Boban provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal but it is miles over!
44.54
Vicente Velasco passes the ball forward to Alan Merson. Alan Merson lofts in a cross ball towards Joe Campbell. Joe Campbell connects with a diving header but it's well over the bar!
45.00
The referee whistles the end of the first half!
Both teams emerge for the second half. Liverpool appear unchanged since the first half. Reading also appear unchanged since the first half. The Reading players look more motivated than they were before.
45.00
Liverpool kick off and get the second half underway!
47.34
Rio Burgess sees space and advances. Rio Burgess tries a spectacular long range effort. It slams into the side netting. So close!!
48.38
Alan Merson kicks a strong pass forward to Rio Burgess. Rio Burgess whips in a cross ball towards Joe Campbell. With a superhuman jump, Joe Campbell connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. The ball clips the outside of the post and goes out!
51.47
Vicente Velasco threads the ball through to Alan Merson. Alan Merson lofts in a cross ball towards Adam Beckham. Adam Beckham gets a glancing touch on the cross ball. The ball flies a good few feet wide of the post.
53.05
1-0Philip Lassiter comes in with a high challenge, catching Antonio Bento with his studs. Philip Lassiter is shown the red card!! Antonio Bento grimaces as he struggles to run off the knock.
55.35
1-0David Lawton threads a neat ball through to Ian Fenton. Ian Fenton puts a great ball through. Stephen Mendez runs beyond the defensive line but is deemed offside!
57.36
Adam Beckham knocks the ball to his team mate, Vicente Velasco. Vicente Velasco knocks in a cross ball towards Alan Merson. Alan Merson jumps high and flicks the ball with his head. Vegard Soltvedt punches it away to safety.
60.48
1-0Reading have made 3 substitutions with David Kirkland replacing Martin Boban, Diego Di Cara replacing David Lawton and John Bishop replacing Helder Lopes .
63.25
Diego Di Cara kicks a strong pass forward to John Bishop. John Bishop knocks the ball forward to Ian Fenton but the linesmans flag is up. Offside!
65.39
1-0Vicente Velasco hacks John Bishop from behind! The referee brings Vicente Velasco to one side and gives him a warning! John Bishop stretches but gets up unharmed.
67.09
Vicente Velasco flicks a high pass forward. Rio Burgess controls it well on his chest. Rio Burgess lofts in a cross ball towards Alan Merson. Alan Merson rises majestically and gets a header on goal but it's well over the bar!
69.41
Stephen Mendez threads the ball through to John Bishop. John Bishop shoots from 25 yards but Diego Peralta is on top of his game. Quality keeping!
73.10
Rio Burgess plays the ball forward to Branko Damman. Branko Damman finds some space and shoots from distance but couldn't keep it down. It goes high into the crowd!
84.48
Diego Di Cara threads a neat ball through to Antonio Bento. Antonio Bento shoots from 25 yards but Diego Peralta is on top of it.
85.15
Oliver Birkwald knocks the ball forward to Adam Vassell. Adam Vassell flicks a high ball forward to John Bishop who takes it down. John Bishop sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is a match for it. Well saved!
90.00
Damien Allman makes a beautiful solo run. Damien Allman makes a simple pass to Alan Merson. Alan Merson whips in a cross ball towards Vicente Velasco. Vicente Velasco connects with a diving header but Vegard Soltvedt is on top of it.
90.00
Full-time is reached with the referee blowing his whistle!
Match Statistics
Goals
1
0
Shots on Target
5
5
Shots off Target
8
3
Offsides
1
2
Fouls
2
1
Yellow Cards
0
1
Red Cards
1
0
Possession
50%
50%
Play Area
24.3%
47.1%
28.6%
Scorers
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Alan Merson of Liverpool |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Diego Peralta (GK) | 7 | |
| 2. | Philip Lassiter (DEF) |  | 3 |
| 3. | Del Drake (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Neil Hitchcock (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Damien Allman (DEF) | 6 | |
| 6. | Vicente Velasco (MID) | 6 | |
| 7. | Branko Damman (MID) | 6 | |
| 8. | Rio Burgess (MID) | 7 | |
| 9. | Adam Beckham (ATT) | 7 | |
| 10. | Alan Merson (ATT) |  | 8 |
| 11. | Joe Campbell (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | Nigel Grondin (ATT) | 0 | |
| 13. | André Romo (MID) | 0 | |
| 14. | Marvin Copping (MID) | 0 | |
| 1. | Vegard Soltvedt (GK) | 7 | |
| 2. | Oliver Birkwald (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Adam Vassell (DEF) |  | 5 |
| 4. | Martin Boban (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Scott Mccann (MID) | 6 | |
| 6. | David Lawton (MID) | 6 | |
| 7. | Stephen Mendez (MID) | 6 | |
| 8. | Ian Fenton (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Antonio Bento (ATT) | 6 | |
| 10. | Helder Lopes (ATT) | 6 | |
| 11. | Duarte Moutinho (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | David Kirkland (DEF) | 6 | |
| 13. | Diego Di Cara (MID) | 6 | |
| 14. | John Bishop (ATT) | 6 | |