Liverpool Kicks Off Crucial Week Of Premier League And European Action With Vvisit To Reading

The Reds have a must-win Champions League match at Marseille followed by a clash with fierce rival and defending Premier League champion Manchester United, but first has to defend its unbeaten start to the English season at Reading.

Fortunately for Liverpool, it appears to have overcome a rocky spell that included a cluster of drawn matches and has hit 21 goals in its past five games, while conceding just once.

Liverpool is seven points behind leader Arsenal, which is at Middlesbrough on Sunday, and manager Rafa Benitez is eager for another three points as he seeks to end Liverpool's 17-year streak without an English league title.

"I always think of one game at a time and the players know how important this match at Reading is,'' Benitez said. “We need to be focused in every game and we want to keep the pressure up on the other teams.''

And Liverpool should be confident of doing just that.

It has already beaten Reading this season, with Fernando Torres hitting a hat trick for a 4-2 League Cup win.

With Liverpool scoring whoever is in the team, Benitez may rest the Spain striker for the upcoming matches and field Peter Crouch up front.

Benitez also has to decide whether to bring Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio back into the team after they returned to training after injuries, while Jamie Carragher has recovered from bruised ribs and is set to play.

With a 10-point gap having developed between ninth and 12th, Reading is marooned in the bottom half of the standings and keen to put distance between itself and the relegation zone - which is just three points back.

"It will be a tough game against a side with a very good team spirit,'' Benitez said.

Reading will be without John Oster because he needs ankle surgery, while defender Michael Duberry is not ready to return even though he has resumed training following cracked ribs.

Victory for Liverpool is even more important because Manchester United, which is three points ahead in second place, has a home match against last-place Derby.