here is the link to buy my brand new e-book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kopite-View-Season-2012-13-ebook/dp/B00BMW7JTA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1362780961&sr=1-1 the royalties will go to help families of the Hillsborough Tragedy.
Reading 0-0 Liverpool Match Report
Liverpool left the Madejski Stadium frustrated after missing numerous chances to win the match against a Reading side fighting for their Premiership survival. Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was the main reason why Liverpool failed to find a winning goal as he produced numerous saves to keep the Reds at bay.
The Team
Brendan Rodgers made just the one change to the side that started against West Ham last weekend, with Sturridge replacing Stewart Downing. The rest of the team included Reina in goal, with Johnson, Enrique, Agger and Carragher in defence. Coutinho, Lucas, Gerrard and Henderson were the midfield with Suarez in attack.
The Match
Prior to kick-off Reading paid an emotional tribute to the 96 Liverpool supporters who died at Hillsborough ahead of Monday’s 24th anniversary of the disaster with a minute’s silence.
Liverpool dominated possession in the early stages of the match without creating any chances until the 14th minute, when Coutinho split the Reading defence with a clever pass sending Suarez through on goal, but the striker’s dinked finish past McCarthy was headed off the goaline by Gunter.
Liverpool continued to press and Sturridge saw an effort blocked by McCarthy before Coutinho’s low curling effort was tipped around the base of the post by the inspired goalkeeper. From the resulting corner, Carragher headed narrowly over.
It was one-way traffic as Reading fought to stay in the game against constant Liverpool pressure. Suarez saw another effort saved by McCarthy before Gerrard volleyed the rebound at the legs of Karacan.
Coutinho blasted high and wide after Sturridge saw his run into the box halted. Then just before half-time Sturridge was denied by a point-blank save from McCarthy following a corner before Agger headed inches past the wrong side of the post.
Liverpool finally put the ball in the Reading net moments after the re-start when Coutinho flicked home a Gerrard centre, but his effort was ruled offside.
The second half continued in the same pattern as the first half with Liverpool continuing to create chances. Rodgers introduced Downing for Jordan Henderson for the last half hour as his team continued to search for the opening goal.
Coutinho then skimmed an effort wide of the far post after a Sturridge cut-back. But Reading almost stole the lead against the run of play when Pogrebnyak’s centre found Hunt only yards out but Reina made a stunning point-blank save to keep the score level.
Reading called Reina into action again when McAnuff’s 12 yard drive had to be tipped over the bar by the Spaniard as the hosts enjoyed their best spell of the game.
But it wasn’t long before Liverpool were back on the attack as Suarez saw a great effort from a free-kick clip the outside of the post before Downing drilled a shot off target after cutting in from the right flank.
Liverpool continued right to the end in search for the winning goal but they were left bewildered by the form of Reading keeper McCarthy as he pulled off stunning late saves from Gerrard and then Suarez before Sturridge fired over the bar when presented with a great chance as Reading held out for a share of the points.
Summary
Another frustrating day for Liverpool as Reading somehow managed to keep Liverpool out. Frustration has been a common theme this season as Liverpool must be left wondering how they never managed to win this match. A catalogue of missed chances including poor finishing and outstanding goalkeeping from the inspired McCarthy led to Liverpool’s frustration as they continue to search for the recipe of consistency in their results. But many positives must be taken from the game as the drive and determination to get that vital goal right up to the final whistle was encouraging as the players showed great attitude in creating so many chances. Another clean sheet was another positive to take from the game. Gerrard’s energy to drive his players on was inspirational as he proved once again that he has a few miles left in his tank yet. But overall another disappointing result for Liverpool and the search for consistency continues.
The Kopite View 
Mate, i ve been ASTORNISH and DISGUSTEDLY FIRIOUS about rodgers COWARDLY INDECISIVE and INCOMPETENTLY NAIVE interms of selection and TACTICAL INEPTITUDE by puting SQUARE PEGS IN ROUND HOLES which hasn’t work for a longer time. These are the CLUES. 1 he abandonely drop his tikitaka phil of a 433 due to the pace and physique of the epl. The point is gerrard is never a lad 2 play flat with lucas but shld be played always behind the front 3. Eg. Is when rodgers pull lucas out and redrew allen and gerrard exploit the space against united at OT. Coutinho is immense when at the flanks and he and downing shld be playing there and Br shld tell them to interchange as well. And with Ds he shld be play as cf only when Sg is playing behind him and with that SD is sacrifice then. I dont get his attitude of playing 4231 wìth Ll & Sg whiles playing either allen,hendo,sahin or jonjo ahead of them showcases TACTICAL BANKRUPTCY. That has YEILDED THE INCONSISTENCY in the team. Imo ive realise that rodgers is far behind the likes of Jurgen KLOPP and MANUEL PELLEGRINI who could be available this summer. They w’d impart positively on the ideology of the new evolution of scientific football. Also known as the new Tikitaka.
the above comments made me laugh, some “fannies” talk about Tikitaka etc, & football science played by humans not a computer..and forget thats its a game hen its just a system that suits a certain team, and we are NOt a club that is made up of robots to copy some one else, we are LIVERPOOL ..lets get back to basics and a Liverpool way that presses and can switch from pass and move to cutting and swift attacjs builts oupin a string defence, before the american infection of our club in 2007 we had been to 4 finals in 3 season Champions league (twice) FA cup and League cup.. .(and 2 points close to winning the hardest league to win in the world) . the mis-management and discord has dragged us down to an average position in an average league..
however I do agree about naive tactics, its easy to predict that BR will return to a 4-2-4 when he can, has not the initiative to rest Luis when obviously needed, (instead of the usual withdrawal of Hendo, he should have moved Sturridge to the centrakl attack.. taking Jordon off, gave the midfield to reading.. and resulted in a period of the home team controlling the game and almost scoring (thanks Pepe for a couple of good saves)
yes we should have taken one or more of the many chances at the end.. but its wasnt the steamroller that some pretend..
Coutinho is not a midfielder , btw!
I’d like to see Danny encouraged to go forward into midfield (covered by Lucas) when we attack, to turn 4.3.3. into 3.4.3 ..and the Glen we saw , up until a few games ago .. return to form , please… we arent a great team , but this team , could, with PROPER management, become great !
and lets have Andy available , as a plan “C” (for Carroll)
😉
p.s. to the writer, a) comment on your Hillsborough piece, no one expected to be a hero…!
b) are u wanting to be a “mainstream reporter”? because i dont see the point of another match report that we can get from another 100 souurces unless you add some “spice” that they dont??
IMO! ;;)