Liverpool v Reading - Pre Match

[Morph]

Not sure if i'm just being blind but I couldn't see a thread about this anywhere, so merge it if there already is

Anyways, expecting this to be a decent game today, think it'll be tough but we'll run out comfortable winners, doesn't appear to be any new injury news, so will probably see Bellamy get a game after staying on the bench v PSV.

[Morph]

Sky Sports

After a 4-1 victory over The Gunners last weekend, Liverpool are well placed to finish the season in third position.

Rafa Benitez is likely to pick a strong team for a first visit to The Madejski Stadium after the convincing success over PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.

But the Reds manager will be pressed into at least one change as Fabio Aurelio is out for the rest of the season with an Achilles injury.

Mark Gonzalez is likely to take his place on the left, while Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt will hope to continue their partnership in attack.

Crouch scored a hat-trick against Arsenal a week ago, while Kuyt grabbed both goals in the 2-0 win over Reading at Anfield back in November.

Reading remain in the top 10 in the Premiership and, despite Steve Coppell's reluctance to go for Europe, are not out of the Uefa Cup picture.

Coppell is likely to select his strongest available team for the Liverpool game before freshening things up for the tussle with Charlton Athletic on Monday.

Glen Little is unlikely to play again this season due to an Achilles injury, with John Oster getting the nod ahead of Seol Ki-hyeon on Saturday.

Reading skipper Graeme Murty is doubtful due to a calf complaint, so Greg Halford should continue at right-back.

Marcus Hahnemann came off at half-time in last week's 1-0 defeat at Tottenham, but has shaken off a hip complaint to start.

Ibrahima Sonko and Bobby Convey are long-term absentees, while Kevin Doyle will be looking to reclaim his starting spot.

Skysports.com prediction 0-2
Liverpool to repeat their 2-0 win from earlier in the season

Player to watch: Peter Crouch

----------------------------------------------------------------------

BBC Sport

Reading winger Glen Little (Achilles) is out, with John Oster ahead of Seol Ki-Hyeon in the queue to replace him.

Graeme Murty (calf) is still struggling so Greg Halford is set to continue at right-back but keeper Marcus Hahnemann (hip) is expected to be passed fit.

Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy is pushing for a start after missing the last two matches with a rib injury.

Mohamed Sissoko is available again after missing the PSV match through suspension, but Fabio Aurelio is out.

Reading (from): Hahnemann, Federici, Halford, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Duberry, Shorey, Oster, Seol, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Kitson, Lita, Doyle, Long, De la Cruz, Gunnarsson, Bennett, Murty.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Sissoko, Gonzalez, Bellamy, Kuyt, Crouch, Fowler, Dudek, Zenden.

#
Reading manager Steve Coppell:

"This is a great time to play Liverpool and I mean that.

"So this game I look upon as a really exciting celebration for us to be welcoming Liverpool, the team I watched as a boy to our stadium.

"It is a fabulous occasion and one that we should not be intimidated by, whatever the result."

#
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez:
"Steve has done a good job. They're well organised and at the beginning of the season they played with a high tempo.

"With the campaign coming to an end they're still playing with that tempo.

"Steve was the best Championship boss and he's shown he's a good Premiership manager too."


BIG-MATCH FACTS

READING have not won in six in all competitions and slipped from a club record high of sixth place to eight, going into this home clash with a red hot Liverpool. Last season's Championship winners still have a chance of securing Uefa Cup football from their first ever season in the top flight, but it is arguable if manager Steve Coppell really wants it.

The Royals have gained one point out of 12, and not scored in two Premiership outings. Only 23% of their points have come from clubs currently in the top half of the table (10 of 44). It's the lowest such proportion of any club.

These clubs are meeting for the first time ever on Reading soil.

LIVERPOOL go to the Madejski in majestic form. Last Saturday they thrashed Arsenal 4-1 and replaced them at third in the table, then they went to Holland and firmly placed more than one foot in the semi-finals of the Champions League with a highly polished 0-3 away leg victory over PSV Eindhoven. Now they'll be looking for more goals to stay on course for pre-qualifying for next season's Champions League through the domestic League.

This match brings together two of the most disciplined sides in the highest League. Both clubs have only been shown 35 cards. Reading have had three players sent off, while all of Liverpool's cards have been yellow. They are the only club without a dismissal from top division duels this term.

The Reds hold a 100% record over Reading. They knocked them out of the Carling Cup 4-3 at the third round stage on 25 October, and then 10 days later won 2-0 in the Premiership with two Dirk Kuyt goals.

REFEREE

Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Premiership referees' table
Peter Walton's 2006-07 Premiership card count

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

READING
Club stats
Fixtures
8th 44 points
Lowest could fall after Saturday's games: 9th
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premiership fixtures)

1. Not won in six in all competitions.

2. Drawn two and lost four League and Cup games since the 2-0 home Premiership victory over Aston Villa on 10 February.

3. Not won in four Premiership matches (one draw, three losses), following four League wins on the bounce.

4. Won 13 and lost 13 of their 31 Premier League games.

5. Undefeated in five home League outings. Won four and drawn one at the Madejski, since losing 0-2 to Everton on 23 December.

6. The most recent home game was a goalless draw with Portsmouth on 17 March - and followed 14 goals scored in the previous four home League matches.

7. Been 'doubled' only once so far this season, by Arsenal.

8. A visit to Charlton is scheduled for Easter Monday. Thereafter the month involves a home clash with Fulham, a trip to Bolton, and a visit from Newcastle.

LIVERPOOL
Club stats
Fixtures
3rd 57 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 4th

1. Won just two of the last six Premiership matches.

2. Looking for a 18th top League victory of the season. Only Manchester United (25) and Chelsea (22) have won more.

3. Managed 17 Premiership shut-outs. Only Chelsea have registered more (19).

4. Conceded just 21 top flight goals, at one every 133 minutes (two hours 13 minutes). Only Chelsea have a better record with 19 shipped (one every 147 minutes).

5. Conceded only once in the first 15 minutes of a Premiership match this term. Only Chelsea can match that.

6. Boast the strongest defence in the last quarter-hour with just four goals shipped in that Premiership time sector.

7. On the joint longest current run in the Premiership without a score draw of 23 games, since ending 1-1, home to Blackburn on 14 October.

8. Only sixth best away from home in the highest echelon with 18 points from a possible 45.

9. The return leg with PSV follows this, before a League visit to Manchester City. Other Premiership fixtures in April feature successive home clashes against Middlesbrough and Wigan and a trip to Portsmouth.

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

READING
Squad profiles

Leroy LITA is Reading's top scorer with 14 goals.

LITA needs to score one to total 50 career League goals (Bristol City and Reading).

Kevin DOYLE is the club's top Premiership marksman - all 10 of his goals have been in the League.

Ivar INGIMARSSON is the only player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Reading's Premiership matches to date. The Iceland international, together with Marcus HAHNEMANN, James HARPER and Steven SIDWELL have played in at least a part of every one of Reading's Premiership matches.

If he plays, Michael DUBERRY will be making his 250th career League appearance (Chelsea, Bournemouth, Leeds, Stoke and Reading).

LIVERPOOL
Squad profiles

Peter CROUCH is Liverpool's top scorer with 17 goals, including four in his last two appearances (against Arsenal and PSV).

CROUCH's hat trick against Arsenal last Saturday was only the third in the Premiership this season. There has never been fewer than seven in a top tier campaign in the Premier League era.

CROUCH and Dirk KUYT are the club's joint leading marksman in the Premiership with nine each.

Steven GERRARD is the only remaining player to have figured in at least a part of each of Liverpool's Premiership games this season.

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE

Liverpool 2-0 Reading
4 November 2006 - Ref: Uriah Rennie
Liverpool scorers: Kuyt 14, 73

ITV Sport

Reading v Liverpool

Reading winger Glen Little will miss Saturday's Barclays Premiership home game with Liverpool because of an Achilles injury, with John Oster ahead of Seol Ki-Hyeon in the queue to replace him.

Little is expected to be sidelined for a number of weeks, joining Ibrahima Sonko and Bobby Convey (both knee) in the long-term absentee category.

Skipper Graeme Murty is still feeling the effects of a calf problem so Greg Halford is set to continue at right-back but goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, forced off with a hip injury during half-time at Tottenham on Sunday, is expected to be passed fit.

Craig Bellamy has staked his claim to return for Liverpool after missing the last two matches with a rib injury.

He was on the bench in Eindhoven on Tuesday, but it was not an option manager Rafael Benitez wanted to use.

Liverpool will also have midfielder Mohamed Sissoko available again. He was suspended for the Champions League tie.

Fabio Aurelio is out following an operation on Thursday on an Achilles tendon.

Teams

Reading (from): Hahnemann, Federici, Halford, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Duberry, Shorey, Oster, Seol, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Kitson, Lita, Doyle, Long, de la Cruz, Gunnarsson, Bennett, Murty.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Sissoko, Gonzalez, Bellamy, Kuyt, Crouch, Fowler, Dudek, Zenden.

[kopash]

would be nice to see Kuyt score...

[cobain]

I'm expecting a win. Reading are a good team, but I think our form at the moment is the best in England. I expect Reina to keep a clean sheet and I also expect Bellamy to score one.

Team v. Reading:

GK: Reina
Def: Finnan, Carra, Agger, Riise
Mid: Pennant, Alonso, Momo, Gonzalez
Att: Kuyt, Bellamy

subs: Fowler, Hyypiä, Dudek, Arbeloa and someone else...

Prediction: 0-3 (Fowler, Bellers, Xabi Alonso)

[Morph]

Am I the only one who doesn't want to see Sissoko play today, I was a big fan last season but his form has dipped, and going on his recent performances, Mascherano looks a much better player.

[El Jefecito]

Am I the only one who doesn't want to see Sissoko play today, I was a big fan last season but his form has dipped, and going on his recent performances, Mascherano looks a much better player.

Momo was awesome up until his injury. He needs games to get to that same level of match sharpness.

[kurtangle01]

This is a tough game today. On paper we're the better side but Reading are a decent side, especially at home, so we can't take a win for granted.

Score first and we'll win. Go 1 down and it'll be tough.

[Morph]

Momo was awesome up until his injury. He needs games to get to that same level of match sharpness.

I know like I said i was a fan last season, but for me mascherano looks to be the better player, more composed on the ball and a better passer, also gets more involved in the attacks

[kurtangle01]

I know like I said i was a fan last season, but for me mascherano looks to be the better player, more composed on the ball and a better passer, also gets more involved in the attacks

He also has an end product where as Momo has very little end product. Momo still has a role to play though and would possibly be well suited to this type of game today.

[Morph]

He also has an end product where as Momo has very little end product. Momo still has a role to play though and would possibly be well suited to this type of game today.

All depends on how rafa wants to go really, we don't really need to put in a great performance on weds but we still need to be competent, so i'd imagine rafa would see this as the more important match, so we might get an idea of who rafa see's as his best mids today

[cobain]

This is a tough game today. On paper we're the better side but Reading are a decent side, especially at home, so we can't take a win for granted.

Score first and we'll win. Go 1 down and it'll be tough.

I said the same when we played Newcastle.

Anyways, the only threat to us is Leroy Lita. He's one big badass and if we keep him quiet, there's no way Reina will concede a goal.

[livvy145]

Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Arbeloa
Gerrard
Mascherano
Sissoko
Gonzalez
Crouch
Bellamy

From Radio City.

[livvy145]

Official

Peter Crouch and Craig Bellamy will lead the attacking line for Liverpool at Reading this afternoon.
Sami Hyypia returns at the heart of the defence in place of Daniel Agger, while Momo Sissoko is back in midfield alongside Javier Mascherano.

The Liverpool team in full for today's clash is:

Reina
Arbeloa
Carragher
Hyypia
Finnan
Gonzalez
Sissoko
Mascherano
Gerrard
Crouch
Bellamy

Subs:
Dudek
Agger
Riise
Pennant
Kuyt

[jonesie]

Good side. I'm looking for a big performance from Gonzalez today...

[Red_Al_77]

Looks like Fowler and Pennant have been earmarked for PSV. Nice to see Sami getting a run out.