Liverpool have crashed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle, following an embarrassing defeat in extra time at the hands of Reading.
A last minute Reading penalty sent the game to extra time, and then the visitors delivered the knockout blow to ensure the Reds early exit from this year's competition.
Liverpool had started on the front foot, and spent most of the opening exchanges camped in the Reading half, with their opponents playing on the counter attack.
Despite dominating possession early on chances were few & far between, and as the game went on the Reds began to lose momentum, with more and more passes going astray. To make matters worse Torres was withdrawn midway through the first half with a suspected knee injury, replaced by David Ngog.
Despite fading though the Reds broke the deadlock one the stroke of halftime, Steven Gerrard's cross deflecting off Bertrand and into the Reading net.
The second half begain with the news that Gerrard wasn't fit to continue, though the news must have only come at the last minute as his replacement Ryan Babel had already taken his place on the Liverpool bench and had to quickly ready himself to take to the pitch.
Liverpool started to look more dangerous at the start of the second half, but again as the game went on they faded, and Reading began to look a real threat. Jobi McAnuff managed to make the Reds defence look non-existent as he skipped past them, and had his finish matched his run the scores would have been level.
Then in the 90th minute Reading were awarded a penalty which they converted to send the game in to extra time. The penalty decision itself may have been dubious, but an equaliser had been on the cards and so it was no surprise to see the scores level.
Now it was Reading that were in the ascendency, and Liverpool's misery was confirmed in the first half of extra time when Shane long headed home from Gunnarsson's cross.
The Reds spent the remainder of extra time searching for an equaliser - and very nearly found one - but Yossi Benayoun was unable to capitalise on a one-on-one with Reading keeper Federici.
The game ended to a chorus of boos from the Anfield faithful, and whilst many may not agree with this type of 'support' the reasons behind it were clear for all to see.
Your Comments:
Frustrated Red (guest)- January 18th 2010.
How can we not beat a side struggling in the Championship? I could understand if we got a shock result in the first game but to fail with two chances is disgraceful.
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