Reading 3 (Hunt 16 (pen), Doyle 59, Harper 67)
Liverpool 1 (Gerrard 28)
The old Reading are back!
Steve Coppell's men took three points against previously-unbeaten Liverpool; our performance full of energy, determination and quality.
Stephen Hunt opened the scoring from the spot on 16; the penalty awarded controversially as Jamie Carragher went in on Brynjar Gunnarsson. It was definitely a foul, but right on the very edge of the box.
Steven Gerrard clawed his team back level before half time, and despite some pressure from the Reds, it stayed 1-1 until half time.
Fernando Torres had a decent penalty claim waved away after the break, and eventually came off injured.
Just before the hour we nudged ourselves ahead, Kevin Doyle getting the faintest of touches on a great Nicky Shorey free kick.
Gerrard then put a brilliant effort againt the post; the keeper beaten.
A moment later, it was 3-1. James Harper was the coolest man in the stadium, rounding the keeper superbly to slot home after he broke from the half way line.
Liverpool tried to come back, but took Gerrard off, and they seemed to get less threatening as time wore on.
Peter Crouch hit the post in injury time, and Reading took all three points following a very good performance.
Overall, it was maybe tighter than 3-1 suggests, and Liverpool will point to some decisions that could have gone differently.
But there was no denying Reading's effort, and let's not forget the quality.
A fantastic way for Coppell's men to get back on track.
Reading: Hahnemann; Murty (c) (Cisse 90), Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko (Bikey 80); Gunnarsson, Harper, Hunt, Convey (Lita 87); Doyle, Kitson
Subs: Federici, Long
Liverpool: Reina; Arbeloa, Riise, Carragher (Hyypia 82), Hobbs; Mascherano, Sissoko, Voronin, Gerrard (Babel 71); Crouch, Torres (Kewell 60)
Subs: Itandje, Kuyt
Booked: Gerrard (foul 58)
Ref: A Marriner
Attendance: 24,022
First half
Fernando Torres had a very good sight of goal with eight minutes gone, and probably should have scored, only shooting straight at the keeper.
After that scare, Reading began to up the tempo.
Brynjar Gunnarsson was a good influence in midfield, and was denied by a low stop from Jose Reina.
The Royals were very much upping the ante. With 16 minutes gone, that pressure became a goal.
Gunnarsson burst forward, and was challenged by Jamie Carragher right on the edge of the area.
The referee whistled for an infringement, and then his linesman signalled it was inside the box.
Liverpool were incredulous. In truth, it was exceptionally tight. Carragher began to make the challenge outside the area, but by the time contact was made, it was right on the edge.
There's no doubt it was a foul, but inside or out? Who knows.
Stephen Hunt kept a cool head and slotted home the penalty nicely.
Reading were on top, and were no more than a foot away from a second. Bobby Convey was agonisingly close with a great drive after a lovely move.
But, just before the half hour, Liverpool were level, and it was their two key players who made the goal.
Ibrahima Sonko was not quite his dominant self as a long ball from Reina was allowed to find Torres.
The Spaniard found Steven Gerrard, who had lost his marker Hunt, and slotted home nicely.
Liverpool were buoyed by the goal, and wanted a penalty on 38 when Torres went down in the box. Sonko clearly touched the ball though.
As the half wore on, the visitors were getting closer and Reading getting deeper. Andriy Voronin had been quiet, but tried his luck with a couple of efforts.
Second half
On 53, Reading tried the offside trap from a free kick, but Gunnarsson played debutant defender Jack Hobbs onside. Thankfully, he skied over.
Then a moment later Torres again wanted a penalty. Sonko didn't get anything on the ball, but there didn't seem to be a lot of contact either as the Spaniard went down. It was tight, and as the cliche goes, you've seen them given.
Hunt made a cracking run just before the hour, and was hacked by Gerrard in a dangerous position; the Liverpool skipper going in the book.
Shorey took the resulting free kick, and his fabulous delivery was glanced by Kevin Doyle.
Torres was immediately withdrawn, presumably injured.
Doyle was very close to another goal a moment later. His rasping drive was just a yard over.
Liverpool put their best move together on 65. It came to Gerrard, and his brilliant effort had Marcus Hahnemann beaten, only to smack back off the bar.
The game was end-to-end.
On 67, Doyle did brilliantly down the left. He found Convey, and the American released the onrushing James Harper.
Time seemed to stand still as Harper broke with a clear run at goal. He was the coolest man in the ground, running 40 yards, rounding Reina and finishing brilliantly. A wonderful goal. The composure superb, the finish excellent.
The game was far from over though, and Reading knew they had to defend.
Sub Harry Kewell was only a yard away with a half volley.
Reading's cause was arguably aided on 71, Gerrard coming off. The fourth official's board originally said Hobbs was to be withdrawn as confusion reigned on the sidelines.
With 16 left, Carragher burst into the box, but his cross was a foot away from Peter Crouch, who surely would have scored if it was in his path.
As time ebbed away, proceedings favoured Reading more and more, Liverpool becoming less and less of a threat.
Crouch hit the post in injury time, but it was of no consequence.
Reading's performance merited a positive result, of that there can be no doubt. Yes, one or two things went our way, but as it was famously said, the more you practice, the luckier you seem to get.
