HO NO ... Philippe Coutinho has a goal ruled out
IF LIVERPOOL could finish even half as well as their manager can talk they would probably be Premier League champions by now.
Unfortunately for the Reds, Brendan Rodgers is making promises which his players just cannot keep as they fall further adrift of the top six.
The talkative Rodgers had come into this game claiming his club are following the Borussia Dortmund blueprint for success.
But the harsh reality is that Liverpool are a million miles away from the Champions League semi-finalists right now.
In fact they almost certainly will not even be in the Europa League next season.
TRIBUTE ... Reading and Liverpool fans remember the 96 fatal victims of the Hillsborough disaster
It was Reading’s first point in eight games and Rodgers had nothing but praise for the young keeper who first came to his attention during his brief spell as Royals boss in 2009.
The Reds chief revealed: “I have always known he’s a real talent. We had 14 shots on target today and for a keeper to play like that after so long out was a staggering performance. He was inspired.
“I don’t think we could have done any more today. Our interchange and creativity was outstanding. We created enough chances to win three games.
“Of course we’re frustrated but it’s another point moving forward and the aim now is just to finish the season as high as possible.
HANDS OFF ... Noel Hunt leaps with Pepe Reina
It might have been Nigel Adkins’ first point since taking charge at Reading but it still was not enough to lift them off the foot of the table. The new Royals manager said: “I’m really pleased with our attitude and application today.
“Alex McCarthy has made some world-class saves.”
It was a good job that both managers were so easily pleased because there was not much to lift the rest of us.
Liverpool spent so long camped in the Reading half that they could have claimed squatters’ rights by the end.
Yet the day had all started so promisingly with an impeccably observed minute’s silence to commemorate tomorrow’s 24th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
And the travelling Liverpool supporters were determined to make it clear that their respects were NOT being paid to Margaret Thatcher.
SUPER SAVER ... Alex McCarthy defies Liverpool again
Balloons and firecrackers were let off to accompany chants of “Let’s all do the conga, Maggie is no longer.”
Affronted Reading fans responded with their own equally tasteless songs.
It took the intervention of a number of stewards to prevent a potentially volatile situation from getting out of hand.
Strangely enough, neither manager heard or saw anything untoward because they were both so gripped by the action on the pitch.
Yes, it was as fascinating as goalless draws get.
READING: McCarthy, Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly, McCleary, Karacan (Carrico 57), Guthrie, McAnuff, Pogrebnyak (Blackman 73), Hunt (Le Fondre 79). Subs Not Used: Taylor, Pearce, Leigertwood, Harte.
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Jose Enrique, Henderson (Downing 57), Gerrard, Lucas, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge. Subs Not Used: Jones, Assaidi, Coates, Suso, Shelvey, Skrtel.
ATT: 24,139
REF: M Clattenburg
 |
| HO NO ... Philippe Coutinho has a goal ruled out |
IF LIVERPOOL could finish even half as well as their manager can talk they would probably be Premier League champions by now.
Unfortunately for the Reds, Brendan Rodgers is making promises which his players just cannot keep as they fall further adrift of the top six.
The talkative Rodgers had come into this game claiming his club are following the Borussia Dortmund blueprint for success.
But the harsh reality is that Liverpool are a million miles away from the Champions League semi-finalists right now.
In fact they almost certainly will not even be in the Europa League next season.
TRIBUTE ... Reading and Liverpool fans remember the 96 fatal victims of the Hillsborough disaster
It was Reading’s first point in eight games and Rodgers had nothing but praise for the young keeper who first came to his attention during his brief spell as Royals boss in 2009.
The Reds chief revealed: “I have always known he’s a real talent. We had 14 shots on target today and for a keeper to play like that after so long out was a staggering performance. He was inspired.
“I don’t think we could have done any more today. Our interchange and creativity was outstanding. We created enough chances to win three games.
“Of course we’re frustrated but it’s another point moving forward and the aim now is just to finish the season as high as possible.
HANDS OFF ... Noel Hunt leaps with Pepe Reina
It might have been Nigel Adkins’ first point since taking charge at Reading but it still was not enough to lift them off the foot of the table. The new Royals manager said: “I’m really pleased with our attitude and application today.
“Alex McCarthy has made some world-class saves.”
It was a good job that both managers were so easily pleased because there was not much to lift the rest of us.
Liverpool spent so long camped in the Reading half that they could have claimed squatters’ rights by the end.
Yet the day had all started so promisingly with an impeccably observed minute’s silence to commemorate tomorrow’s 24th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
And the travelling Liverpool supporters were determined to make it clear that their respects were NOT being paid to Margaret Thatcher.
SUPER SAVER ... Alex McCarthy defies Liverpool again
Balloons and firecrackers were let off to accompany chants of “Let’s all do the conga, Maggie is no longer.”
Affronted Reading fans responded with their own equally tasteless songs.
It took the intervention of a number of stewards to prevent a potentially volatile situation from getting out of hand.
Strangely enough, neither manager heard or saw anything untoward because they were both so gripped by the action on the pitch.
Yes, it was as fascinating as goalless draws get.
READING: McCarthy, Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly, McCleary, Karacan (Carrico 57), Guthrie, McAnuff, Pogrebnyak (Blackman 73), Hunt (Le Fondre 79). Subs Not Used: Taylor, Pearce, Leigertwood, Harte.
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Jose Enrique, Henderson (Downing 57), Gerrard, Lucas, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge. Subs Not Used: Jones, Assaidi, Coates, Suso, Shelvey, Skrtel.
ATT: 24,139
REF: M Clattenburg
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