Saturday, April 13, 2013

Match Preview: Reading vs Liverpool

Reading welcome Liverpool to the Madejski Stadium on Saturday aiming to keep alive their slim hopes of staying up.

Winger Jimmy Kebe will miss Reading's Premier League encounter with Liverpool at the because of a groin problem.

Fellow midfielder Hope Akpan is a major doubt for the match because of an ankle injury sustained in last Saturday 2-0 defeat to Southampton.

Royals boss Nigel Adkins said Reading have further niggles, but no other players are expected to be ruled out.

Liverpool has Stewart Downing available again after injury, but Raheem Sterling is ruled out through injury.

Downing was forced off early on during last weekend's draw with West Ham because of illness, but he has recovered and is in the squad for the trip to Reading

Sterling is struggling with a thigh problem and Brendan Rodgers is not willing to take any risks with the youngster's fitness and he could be given a breather for the rest of the season.

Long-term absentees Martin Kelly (knee), Joe Allen and Fabio Borini (both shoulder) remain the only men on the sidelines.

Reading goes into the game bottom of the table, eight points from safety and with only six matches remaining.

The Royals have lost seven successive Premier League games, just one short of their top-flight record of eight straight defeats.

New Reading boss Nigel Adkins has suffered back-to-back losses in his first two games in charge, but he remains positive about their chances of pulling off a great escape from the drop zone.

Liverpool is currently seventh in the Premier League, nine points adrift of the top four with six games remaining.

Brendan Rodgers is refusing to give up hope of qualifying for Europe and will be keen to see his side pick up all three points after dropping two at home to West Ham last time out.

Interesting Facts:

In nine previous clashes with the Reds in all competitions, Reading has never managed a clean sheet.

Liverpool has won four of their previous five league meetings with the Royals, all played in the Barclays Premier League, though they did lose their last trip to the Madejski in December 2007.

The Reds have scored in their last 10 away league games, the longest current run of its kind in the top-flight.

The Reds have won 61% of games that Jamie Carragher has played in this season, and just 14% without him.

No comments: