subject: Liverpool Vs. Reading Live Streaming [print this page] Author: peter Author: peter
Although the FA Cup provides a welcome distraction for some, there is no disguising the fact that this is a fixture we could do without at this point. Given our precarious position in the league our small squad needs all the rest it can get if we are to keep battling all the way until May. However, the fact of the matter is that we only have ourselves to blame as we prepare to welcome the Championship side to Anfield.
Our performance at The Madejski last time around was totally lacklustre and if you ask me we almost looked at home playing a Championship side. With the fear factor temporarily missing from Anfield Reading will certainly fancy their chances of causing an upset in this clash. However, when you have players like Gerrard and Torres at your disposal there is always reason to believe.
As much as of inconvenience as the extra fixture might be then, it is still a chance to progress in one of the only competitions we now still harbour realistic hopes of winning. For this reason I expect Rafa to name more or less his strongest available side. Not that he really has a choice, i'm starting to think that we only actually have 11 senior players left!
Given that the team more or less picks itself these days I expect to see something similar to the above. The most notable inclusion is academy product Steven Darby at right back. Although we have the option of moving Carra out there and bringing Skrtel into the centre, Darby's encouraging performance at the Madejski may of earned him the right to hold onto his place.
Rafa might opt to bring in Riera or Babel on the wing in a match where he may feel he can afford to rest some senior players. However, I would prefer it if we were to win the game first and give players a rest if and when we get the opportunity. Given the importance of this competition to us now I would hope Rafa agrees with me.
David Ngog should be amongst the substitutes and Daniel Pacheco will also be looking to impress in training if he is to get another first team look in.
Reading themselves will also look to field a strong squad. Having drawn blood in the first encounter they will be going in for the kill this time around and Royals fans are pinning a lot of their hopes on youngster Simon Church who gave us some problems last time around.
With Burnley awaiting the winners of this fixture we have a decent opportunity to progress in this competition and with silverware having become a precious commodity of late, we could do with going on a run in the competition starting tomorrow.
Onto predictions then. Earlier on today I was rooting around in the cupboard when I discovered some chocolate chip cookies that I had forgotten about. As a result I have been in a good mood all day and this may of influenced my prediction but here goes anyway. For a while now there has been a sense of Liverpool gearing up for a backlash. With sucker punch after sucker punch bringing the club to its knees people have been waiting for the match in which we rise up and knock our opponents and our critics out of the park. Maybe it's down to the cookies, then, but I am going to go for a 4-1 win. Don't get me wrong I won't be putting any money on it but in the interest of being interesting, I'm sticking with it. Dom has gone for a more realistic scoreline of 2-0 and to be honest, I'd be more than happy with that.About the Author:
