8.12.07  BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
Reading vs Liverpool 3-1 (PA Sport)


Reading rode their luck to inflict a 3-1 Barclays Premier League defeat on Liverpool and dent the Merseysiders' title hopes.

Stephen Hunt's penalty was cancelled out by Steven Gerrard's 10th goal of the season, but the home side were not to be denied and responded with second-half goals from Kevin Doyle and James Harper.

Liverpool were aggrieved at the penalty award - and appeared also to have had two stronger spot-kick claims of their own ignored by referee Andre Marriner.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez made four changes for today's Barclays Premier League match at Reading, from the side that thrashed Bolton 4-0 at Anfield last week.

With Tuesday's all-important Champions League match in Marseille perhaps uppermost in his mind, the Reds boss brought back Momo Sissoko, Javier Mascherano and Andriy Voronin - at the expense of Harry Kewell, Yossi Benayoun and Lucas Leiva.

There was a change at the back too.

Jamie Carragher recovered in time to keep his place in the side, despite being one booking away from a ban with Manchester United due at Anfield next weekend. But youngster Jack Hobbs was nonetheless handed a first start, with veteran Sami Hyypia dropping to the bench.

Reading stuck with the side that had drawn 1-1 at home to Middlesbrough last week.

Reading's Kevin Doyle fired in the game's first shot in the sixth minute but his effort on the turn was well over Jose Reina's crossbar.

Liverpool replied with a move that should have brought the opening goal a minute later.

Ibrahima Sonko, jumping with Peter Crouch, was unable to stop Jon Arne Riise's long throw from reaching Fernando Torres and the Spaniard quickly poked the ball goalwards from six yards out.

Torres scored a hat-trick the last time he played at Reading, in a 4-2 Carling Cup success in September, but this time goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was able to parry.

Steven Gerrard clashed with Brynjar Gunnarsson but referee Andre Mariner was unmoved - to the home fans' annoyance.

Hobbs then headed behind to stop Doyle latching on to Gunnarsson's cross and Liverpool twice struggled to cope with Nicky Shorey crosses before Gunnarsson sent a low drive at Reina.

Javier Mascherano body-checked Bobby Convey to put Liverpool under pressure again and this time Reina had to punch the free-kick clear.

But Reading were relentless and referee Marriner, having consulted a linesman, awarded them a controversial penalty in the 16th minute.

Carragher came racing across to challenge Gunnarsson and brought the Icelander down almost on the right-hand corner of the box.

Replays suggested the offence had been fractionally outside the area - but Stephen Hunt made no mistake from the spot to put Reading ahead.

Convey, cleverly set up by Dave Kitson's pass, was only just over with a rising drive that Reina could not stop as Reading attacked again.

Reading were more than deserving of their lead, however fortuitous the penalty had been, and Kitson won a corner with some trickery.

Ivar Ingimarsson's flick-on almost unhinged Liverpool again but in the end the visitors were able to launch a quick counter-attack that Sonko was only just able to stop.

Gerrard produced an equaliser in the 28th minute to undo all the home side's hard work.

Sonko allowed Torres to control a long ball which he slipped sideways into his skipper's path and, after Gerrard had shrugged off Hunt's challenge, he calmly slotted past Hahnemann for his 10th goal of the season.

There was a let-off for Reading in the 38th minute when referee Marriner failed to give Liverpool a penalty when Torres was tripped by Sonko.

Ingimarsson had begun the scare with a poorly-placed header straight to Gerrard, who then slipped the ball in behind the Icelander for Torres to move across goal with menace. In came Sonko, down went Torres, but play carried on.

Voronin had been quiet but fired a snap-shot into the side-netting from the right side of the box.

The Ukrainian had another go from a similar position a few minutes later and this time Hahnemann had to tip it round for a corner.

Convey was felled by Sissoko 25 yards from goal but the free-kick was repelled and the half ended with Sissoko going down in the box under Sonko's challenge at the other end - and again no penalty was awarded.

Torres came close with a diving header that flashed across goal after Shorey's error had allowed Crouch to cross from the right.

Reading made a hash of their offside trap as Riise fired a free-kick in from the right but Hobbs could not hit the target at the far post.

The home side survived yet another penalty shout in the 54th minute when Sonko caught Torres in a race into the box. Again replays confirmed contact had been made but again referee Marriner did not give it.

Hahnemann pulled off a fine parry to deny Riise from a free-kick as Liverpool continued to attack and Crouch had a shot blocked from the next one.

Convey forced a corner at the other end but when it was half-cleared to the American he fired weakly wide.

Gerrard was booked in the 59th minute for a trip on Hunt - and Doyle, having lost his marker, headed home Shorey's free-kick with the slightest of touches to put Reading back in front.

Liverpool immediately made a change with Kewell replacing Torres and, after Riise had fired wide at the other end, Doyle sent a drive past Reina that only just cleared the bar.

Gerrard then hit the bar from the edge of the box before James Harper made it 3-1 in the 67th minute.

Doyle and Convey combined for the American to send the midfielder cantering clear and he calmly took the ball past Reina before finding the empty net.

Kewell then fired across goal and just wide at the other end.

Gerrard was replaced by Ryan Babel for the final 20 minutes, and Hyypia came on for Carragher with nine minutes remaining.

Liverpool knew by then, however, that it was not to be their day - and when Reading sent Leroy Lita on for Convey the points were already in the bag, with Crouch then seeing a stoppage time drive beat Hahnemann but bounce back off a post.

It was the first time Reading had inflicted a Premier League defeat on any of the so-called 'big four'.

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Reading: Hahnemann, Murty (Cisse 90), Sonko (Bikey 81), Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Gunnarsson, Convey (Lita 88), Doyle, Kitson.

Subs Not Used: Federici, Long.
Goals: Hunt 17 pen, Doyle 60, Harper 67.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher (Hyypia 82), Hobbs, Riise, Gerrard (Babel 71), Mascherano, Sissoko, Voronin, Torres (Kewell 61), Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Itandje, Kuyt.
Booked: Gerrard.
Goals: Gerrard 28.

Att: 24,022
Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).