FA Premiership
Saturday 15th March 2008 @ 3pm
Anfield
Liverpool came back from 1-0 down to win our 7th consecutive game and pass the pressure back on to Everton in the battle for fourth place in the Premiership.
Javier Mascherano scored his first goal for the reds and that man Fernando Torres took Liverpool’s season total to 99 goals. It was also the first time a reds player has scored 20 goals in the league in the season since Robbie Fowler 12 years ago and took his tally to 27 goals for the season.
Reading took the lead 5 minutes in when they were awarded a dubious free kick. The goal was a classic training ground move, the free kick delivered across the pitch and fired in by Matejovsky.
If the Reading goal was a gem, then Javier Mascherano chose to match it with his own fantastic debut goal, rifling home from 25 yards out.
Liverpool continued to press – Ryan Babel was the pick of the reds players in the attacking half, constantly heading goalwards and had a shot tipped over the bar by the Reading keeper. Moments later he had a headed goal disallowed. Replays showed that he had strayed a yard offside from the cross.
Skrtel smashed one just over, Kuyt fired over and with seconds remaining of the first half Xabi Alonso narrowly missed with another pile driver.
Half time approached and Reading had kept Torres quiet.
In the second half Liverpool quickly grabbed what turned out to be the winner when the reds were awarded a free kick 35 yards out. It was a goal from the reds new dream partnership. Gerrard fired in the free kick for Torres to head home in front of the Anfield Road end on 48 minutes.
As the game ticked on Liverpool looked jaded. The games have been thick and fast in recent weeks and the toll is starting to tell, especially as Benitez has been keeping a more settled side. Temperatures started to rise and Gerrard and Bikey squared up on more than one occassion. You sensed another goal was coming, but it could have been either side.
Eventually the final whistle arrived and the reds, on the whole, deserved the victory. The players can look forward to a seven day break before another important clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Goals
Matejovsky (0-1)
Javier Mascherano (1-1)Fernando Torres (2-1)Post Match Reaction:
Team Line Ups:
Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Babel, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Torres.
Subs – Hyypia, Benayoun, Itandje, Crouch, Riise
Reading: Hahnemann, Shorey, Bikey, Ingimarsson (captain), Rosenior, Hunt, Harper, Matejovsky, Oster, Long, Doyle.
Subs – Sonko, Kebe, Kitson, Federici, Cisse
Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 43,524
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