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The Official Match Thread: Liverpool Vs Reading. (Premier League)

Discussion in 'Liverpool' started by Chris., Oct 17, 2012.

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What will be the result of Saturday's game between Liverpool & Reading?

Poll closed Oct 20, 2012.
  1. Liverpool Victory.

    72.4%
  2. Draw.

    17.2%
  3. Reading Victory.

    10.3%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Chris.

    Chris. #bringbackchris

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    Hello and welcome to the official match thread for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League encounter between Liverpool & Reading. The game is to be played at Anfield on Saturday 20th October 2012 with a kick-off time of 3PM. English T.V will not be showing the game but streams showing this game are posted on this thread.

    Preview.

    The first international break of the new season is over and we return to domestic football. The Premier League is back and in this thread, we shall be looking at Liverpool & Reading.

    Liverpool haven’t got off to the best of starts so far and will be looking to build some momentum and push towards the higher end of the table. The Reds currently sit 14th in the table with 7 points from 6 games. It’s been a classic case of one step forward, one step back so far for Liverpool.

    They will pick up a good result such as the 2-2 draw with current champions Manchester City and then the Reds will dominate & lose the next game with a below-par performance. (See the 2-0 loss at home to Arsenal)

    This has meant that Liverpool haven’t been able to get a run of results together and make a concerted push towards the positions they would want to be. Liverpool’s last game epitomised their frustrating start to the season.

    After an excellent 5-2 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road, Liverpool welcomed Stoke City to Anfield hoping to build upon that result at Norwich & put together a run of positive results. There were some positives in the game with Stoke but overall, an afternoon of frustration in the red half of Merseyside.

    A 0-0 draw was the final result with Liverpool once again paying for their poor rate of turning chances into goals. Many chances & shots were created but Liverpool didn’t take any of them.

    This resulted in another afternoon of frustration at Anfield for the Liverpool fans and meant that Liverpool haven’t got a league win at Anfield so far this season.

    A statistic Brendan Rodgers will be looking to end on Saturday...

    As the eagle eyed among you will have noticed, I did say there were positives to come out the Stoke game. Liverpool collected their first clean sheet of the league season so far and didn’t lose. It’s always good to see the positive in things!

    In goal, there are one or two concerns for Rodgers & Liverpool. Reports have emerged saying that Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, has picked up a hamstring injury on international duty with the Spanish national side. This has meant that Reina could become a doubt for the Reading game with Brad Jones ready to step into the breach if needed.

    In defence, there are a few more injury concerns for Rodgers. Right-back Martin Kelly is out for the foreseeable future with an ACL knee injury and with left-back Jose Enrique still struggling with a knee injury; Liverpool’s full-back options become short. There would seem to be two options available to Rodgers. The first is to continue with the solution he has used in recent weeks of Andre Wisdom at right-back with Glen Johnson shifted to the left-hand side. The other option could be to move Johnson back to his more favoured right-back position with Jack Robinson going to left-back.

    Things are much easier at centre-back with Martin Skrtel & Daniel Agger set to play.

    In midfield, there are a few options for Brendan Rodgers to consider. At the moment, he has five players all vying for the three slots available. They are Joe Allen, Steven Gerrard, Nuri Sahin, Jonjo Shelvey and Jordan Henderson.

    My personal belief is that we will see a three of Joe Allen, Nuri Sahin & Steven Gerrard start against Reading. This could be argued at for a long time with the two left out, Jonjo Shelvey & Jordan Henderson, having put in good performances in recent weeks. However, the three I have mentioned have all played with each other in recent times and I believe that this will continue.

    In attack, there is a serious lack of players available to fill those slots. The latest injury news is that Liverpool forward Fabio Borini will have surgery on a fractured foot and is likely to be out for three months.

    This leaves Liverpool with ONE senior striker on the books in the form of Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan will be the focal point of the attack and will play in the middle of the attacking three. On the wings, there are a few options to consider. At the moment, I would say that there are four players battling it out for the two slots either side of Suarez. They are Suso, Raheem Sterling, Oussama Assaidi & Stewart Downing.

    Sterling has been involved in a large chunk of Liverpool’s Premier League so far and could be set to continue in the left–hand side position beside Suarez. In the other position, there are options to consider. Suso has impressed in recent games and could start or Rodgers could go with more experience in the shape of Oussama Assaidi or Stewart Downing.

    Now, let’s take a more in-depth look at Reading, their chances of success on Saturday & a potential team.

    Reading have had a difficult return to life in the Barclays Premier League. They are currently winless and 18th in the table. However, I would say that their results & performances aren’t as bad as their league position. They have played six games so far this season and have 3 draws & three defeats to their name.

    Reading were 2-0 up in their last league game as Pavel Pogrebnyak & Noel Hunt gave Reading a two-goal lead. However, goals from Wayne Routledge and Michu got Swansea a point. Being 2-0 up and not collecting the three points would have been a massive disappointment for Reading but it shows that they are progressing in the Premier League and most importantly, scoring goals.

    The team that McDermott puts out to face Liverpool will be crucial and a few changes could be made for this away game.

    In goal, the regular number one Adam Federici is injured and this means that youngster Alex McCarthy will continue in goal. The England Under-21 international was brought into the side after Brian McDermott decided to drop Federici due to a run of poor form. However, McCarthy has now kept his slot and with Federici now injured, he has a chance to cement the goalkeeping slot.

    In defence, McDermott has played a back four of:

    Cummings – Mariappa – Gorkss – Shorey

    I would fully expect this defence to play on Saturday. It is an experienced defence with Nicky Shorey having played numerous times in the Premier League and was part of the Reading side that did so well in their first season in the Premier League.

    In midfield, things should stay around the same as the midfield that played against Swansea. Jimmy Kebe & Jobi McAnuff would be likely to continue on the wings with both players having proven their quality in the Championship and have shown glimpses of their quality in short amount of time they’ve been in the Premier League. In the middle of the park, Jem Karacan will take up one of those slots after cementing himself as a first-team regular. He could be partnered by one of Jay Tabb or Danny Guthrie. Liverpool fans may remember Guthrie as he had a spell at Liverpool between 2002 & 2008.

    Up-front, their top scorer, Pavel Pogrebnyak, will almost certainly start. The Russian has 4 goals so far this season for Reading. It would seem likely that Noel Hunt will continue alongside him after scoring in Reading’s last two Premier League games.

    However, if McDermott goes 4-5-1 away from home, he could play put Guthrie alongside Karacan & Tabb in the middle of the park and leave Pogrebnyak up-front on his own.

    So, another interesting game in prospect! Can the ex-Reading manager Brendan Rodgers get his first league win at Anfield on Saturday? Can Brian McDermott and Reading pull off another shock at Anfield?

    All of this, and more, will be answered on the official match thread on the Not606 Liverpool board!

    Injury News.

    Liverpool.


    • Lucas Leiva- Hip/Thigh Injury.
    • Martin Kelly- ACL Knee Injury.
    • Fabio Borini: Ankle/Foot Injury.
    • Pepe Reina: Hamstring Injury.

    Reading


    • Adam Federici: Knee Injury.


    Liverpool 1 - 0 Reading


    Goalscorers:

    Liverpool... Raheem Sterling: 28th minute.

    Liverpool:

    Jones
    -
    Johnson
    Wisdom
    Skrtel
    Agger
    Enrique
    -
    Allen
    Henderson
    Shelvey
    Gerrard
    -
    Suarez

    SUBS:

    Gulacsi
    Carragher
    Sahin
    Downing
    Assaidi
    Sterling
    Suso

    -

    Liverpool Substitution: Nuri Sahin comes off to be replaced by Jonjo Shelvey: 63rd minute.

    Liverpool Substitution: Suso comes off to be replaced by Jose Enrique: 74th minute.

    Liverpool Substitution: Raheem Sterling comes off to be replaced by Jordan Henderson: 84th minute.

    -

    Reading:

    McCarthy
    -
    Cummings
    Gorkss
    Mariappa
    Shorey
    -
    Kebe
    Leigertwood
    McCleary
    McAnuff
    -
    Roberts
    Le Fondre

    SUBS:

    Taylor
    Gunter
    Pearce
    Karacan
    Robson-Kanu
    Guthrie
    Pogrebnyak

    -

    Reading Substitution: Jen Karacan comes off to be replaced by Gareth McCleary: 25th minute.

    Reading Substitution: Pavel Pogrebnyak comes off to be replaced Adam Le Fondre: 74th minute.

    Reading Substitution: Danny Guthrie comes off to be replaced by Jason Roberts: 81st minute.

    -

    YNWA.
     
    #1
  2. BCR

    BCR Well-Known Member

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    #2
  3. Who needs strikers...? Spain have already told the world (and Rodgers) that 4-6-0 is the future...<ok>
     
    #3
  4. BCR

    BCR Well-Known Member

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    and France gave them two fingers on that idea last night! <laugh>

    Well it will be Suarez through the middle, Allen, Gerrard, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel. The rest is up to the big cheese on who he thinks slots in best against Reading or can expose them.
     
    #4
  5. Not that interested in internationals so I'm guessing France beat Spain <laugh>

    I reckon you can add Sterling to that list too <ok>
     
    #5
  6. BCR

    BCR Well-Known Member

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    tied 1-1 but the second half France were kicking the **** out of them. Giroud with the equaliser.

    True, but I think he just may give Downing and Assaidi a game as they have been at melwood training, probably had a chat with them, fresh legs ready to prove their spot, etc.
     
    #6
  7. Good shout on Sterling/Downing/Assaidi <ok>
     
    #7
  8. BCR

    BCR Well-Known Member

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    Sterling has been playing though right? u-19s and u-21s? He was amongst the mayhem against Serbia.
     
    #8
  9. CCC

    CCC Poet Laureate

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    I'm predicting lots of goals in this match, and last time I did that the game was low scoring and a bit boring. <doh>

    I reckon it'll be close, but we'll just edge it. Hopefully, we can get a decent result and start a run of good form. We need a good patch asap.
     
    #9
  10. BCR

    BCR Well-Known Member

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    Good patch with a lot of players injured would be massive for confidence.
     
    #10

  11. Chris.

    Chris. #bringbackchris

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    As well as this thread, a user on the Reading board has done an excellent thread on Saturday's game.

    Here is the link: http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/173899-Liverpool-v-Reading-&#8211;-Match-Chat-(20-10-2012)

    You also have the option of popping onto their own forum and posting a comment on the game! Here is the link for their forum:

    http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/forum/3832070/

    According to the link above, you don't have to sign up to make a comment on their dedicated match thread. Which is a rather good idea!

    So do pop over onto their threads and hopefully a few Reading fans will come onto this thread. Might be able to get a bit of match chat between the two sets of fans going!
     
    #11
  12. shogs

    shogs Well-Known Member

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    Be an interesting match, Reading are an attacking side unlike Stoke so there should be a few goals in this one.

    I'll say 2-2
     
    #12
  13. Noblelox

    Noblelox Well-Known Member

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    Then why did you vote for a Reading win in the poll, you bitter bluenozed bastid? <doh>
     
    #13
  14. Noblelox

    Noblelox Well-Known Member

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    Stunning work as usual Chris, for the first time in 3 weeks, I have been able to rep you...no, don't thank me, you deserve it.

    But you have fuxked up on the poll again, it closes after the game, can you get nothing right?!?!
     
    #14
  15. shogs

    shogs Well-Known Member

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    I'm always optimistic :D


    To be fair I voted first then commented draw and couldn't work out how to change my vote?
     
    #15
  16. moreinjuredthanowen

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    Well for me i have to wonder about plan b. if reading simply tell thier strikers to hassle only skertl and agger and their midfield to stay back in their owen half while lfc knock it about there simply won't be the gaps to pass the ball into to the forward (note not forwards)

    whats plan b is suarez can't find space simply due to reading not chasing us down but letting us tap it about?

    i feel this could decide the game... if we don't score i nthe first 15mins i can see a pattern develop where we don't have that means to break them down
     
    #16
  17. Red Hadron Collider

    Red Hadron Collider The Hammerhead

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    The eternal optimist. We'll piss this one <ok>
     
    #17
  18. Red Hadron Collider

    Red Hadron Collider The Hammerhead

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    PS Great thread as usual, Chris <ok>
     
    #18
  19. moreinjuredthanowen

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    correction!
     
    #19
  20. luvgonzo

    luvgonzo Pisshead

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    I say give Yesil a go up front, on form and full of confidence at home aginst a team we should beat. Sterling Suarez either side of him.
     
    #20

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