Liverpool Goal: Raheem Sterling (29)
The third win at Anfield. Not this season, this year. It's quite staggering just how poor we've been at home over the last couple of years and this was yet again another one of those games we should win comfortably on paper. Nothing is ever that simple but it was still nice to get over the line, whether it was convincing or not. The only way we're ever going to have any kind of intimidation factor at home again is by doing it one game at a time. One win at a time.
Of all the potential casualties of the international break, Pepe Reina was not ever among the likely candidates. Missing this game would be the first league game he has missed through injury in his six years at Liverpool. Replacing him was Brad Jones who was the only change from the same side that came up against a brick wall in Stoke what now seems like a lifetime ago. The likes of Gerrard, Suarez, Agger and Skrtel being able to make it into the line up was one thing, being able to show the same kind of fluidity and ability that was needed and expected to win the game was the much more important question.
Whether they were pumped up for the occasion or trying to stop us from getting any early momentum, Reading started the game very energetically. There were feet flying in everywhere and passes being made without any real thought for where they were going and as such they gave the ball away on a frequent basis. Two half chances were cleared either side of the penalty area as we set about getting into position early and trying to bed into the game. Once we got our foot on the ball everything suddenly looked a lot more precise and Reading set about their defensive shape by flooding the middle of the park. What this did - even as early as the first couple of minutes - was put great emphasis on the need for width to get in beyond their narrow defence and Glen Johnson is a player who needs no invitation to get forward. On the other side, Suso has a completely different set of skills but is likewise able to cause a side problems, finding space pick the ball up and try to catch out their defence with his vision and passing.
Passing it back to the goalkeeper and not only having the skill but being able to remain calm in those situations is something we've had a problem with so far this season. It was good to see that even when there's a different man in between the posts not only do the same rules apply but that he was able to execute what's required without any difficulty. The composure we were able to show at the back when under pressure was not replicated on the other side of the field. Reading were happy to clear the ball anywhere so long as it was away from their goal and repeatedly gave us another chance to start again and come back at them. Glen Johnson was heavily involved, with he and Suarez unable to get a clear cut shot off before also linking up with Sterling and Joe Allen. What this territorial advantage did, with having one of the midfield three come over and assist the two wide players was give us a real presence in and around their penalty area and as such defenders were constantly having to be on the move. As well as dominating the left hand side of the pitch, their movement and constant shifting of defenders would also allow other players like Sahin and Suarez a lot more space in the middle where it was getting very congested.
In a game where we were likely to dominate anyway and in need of some support from midfield, it was very encouraging to see Nuri Sahin get so far forward so early on. There was space all over the wide areas to exploit and the Reading defenders seemed happy to allow our players to cut inside and get toward the penalty area. Both Suso and Glen Johnson were able to get shots away at the goal and although neither was of particulary good quality, it was good to see that we weren't afraid to take the shot on if it was being offered to us. In the case of Suso particularly it was a surefire sign of confidence, having come into the side, done so well and earned himself a new contract. Only one time in the first twenty minutes or so did Brian McDermott's men have any real chance to exert anything in an attacking sense and that was when Joe Allen was forced into conceding a free kick as they were breaking. Not only did it come to nothing but an almost immediate counter attack gave Sterling a chance to take the lead. Sahin was fouled, putting pressure onto the Reading midfield. Play was allowed to go on and it broke to Suarez, who ducked inside the defender and played the ball just behind Sterling, forcing him to come inside where all the defenders that were back had gathered. Despite having been on top since pretty much the first kick of the game Reading had defended superbly and because of it McCarthy in goal was as yet untested.
The role of the back up keeper is a strange one. Goalies in general need to have a heavy amount of concentration but when you're not playing every week that can be hard to maintain. It was good to see Brad Jones with the little he had do be very confident and clear with his decision making, quite audibly giving Skrtel a shout to come for a cross and asserting his authority. If at one end we were being very commanding, at the other it was a moment of indecision that kept the game goalless. Sterling was given the ball on a breakaway and had two choices, either take his man on and shoot from a tight angle or lay it across the box for someone else to have a better chance. In the end he dallied and the chance quickly passed with Reading again getting numbers behind the ball.
After a clash with Steven Gerrard forced Karacan off with an injury, there was a little lull in the game as the delay took a little out of the rhythm. Suarez tried to take advantage of this initially by attempting to catch out their goalkeeper with a deft chip that went harmlessly over, but was still the kind of imaginative play that would keep them guessing. In the minutes that followed, chances came thick and fast and they were almost all variations of the same opportunity that Sterling spurned moments before. One that was almost identical before another chance on the far side that Suarez was unable to find Sahin, who had been tracked well to the defenders credit. We were suddenly being very sharp in our play and it was a case of third time lucky, from a piece of magic by Suarez and finished off brilliantly by Sterling. Wisdom's defensive header was simply in the direction of Luis Suarez, but once again he had the kind of imagination and vision that those around him don't have. He flicked the ball over the defenders head into the space that Sterling was running onto. One touch to get it out of the feet, the other to slot it into the far corner. It was a clinical finish of a forward much older than seventeen. The first league goal of what will almost certainly be many for Raheem Sterling.
With about fifteen minutes to go in the half, Reading looked very much like a side who hadn't won a game yet so far this season. A team that was waiting for something to happen rather than believe they had the capability. We did let them back in it somewhat by giving away soft fouls and not being quite as hungry for the ball as we were prior to the goal. Luis Suarez did manage to put a smile on the face of the fans however, by actually having the benefit of a refereeing decision on the edge of the box. Ironic cheers rang out all around Anfield and it was a shame he couldn't have followed it up by burying the free kick into the top corner, which would have put the game all but to bed by the half way stage. The game ended much in the same way it had begun, with Glen Johnson at the heart of the attack, forcing a save out of McCarthy and then earning a corner with an effort moments later. Having been given one decision by an official, right on half time Suarez should have had another. A collision with Kaspars Gorkšs leaving him with a dead leg but no free kick, much to the ire of the crowd. It was to be the final act of a half that would see Raheem Sterling become our second youngest ever scorer in the league, but ended rather ominously with our only fit and recognised striker limping his way to the dressing room.
It wasn't a perfect sight, but the image of Luis Suarez emerging for the second half - albeit somewhat uncomfortably - was a sign of relief if nothing else. There's no need to take any chances with him at this point so the fact that he was able to continue in any sense was good. He was involved very early on as well immediately looking toward the referee for a foul not given as he contested a header with a Reading defender, before being put through down the right hand side. Suso and Sahin linked up well before Suarez was sent clear, his ball across found Raheem Sterling but still there was work to do. He touch a touch to get it out of his feet but though it stung the gloves of McCarthy, he was able to keep it out. There was visible pressure from our midfield, far more so than in the first half - mostly because the game was passing them by - with Steven Gerrard in particular really aggressive in his attempts to win the ball back high up the pitch. Glen Johnson - as he had been the entire game - was in the thick of the action having two chances in quick succession. At this point it was clear that no Reading player was going to be able to stop him, all he needed was that final piece of skill to get it beyond the goalkeeper.
Mistakes this year have cost us greatly and it was a miskick from the goalkeeper that could have doubled our lead. The ball went straight to Suarez some fifteen yards outside the area, he teased the defenders in front of him one way and then the other. Instead of laying it off to Nuri Sahin who was clean through, he tried to go around the defender and the save was made. From this good chance came a great chance for Reading, Guthrie playing a ball over the top for McCleary. One on one with the goalkeeper, Brad Jones came out and stayed up strong, making himself big and saved the eventual shot to concede a corner rather than anything else. From one end to the other, Suarez again this time down the left hand side, tried to play the ball to Gerrard who moved as he was playing the pass. Frustration all around Anfield and suddenly as the game was becoming more open, our lead was looking very slender indeed.
Though in truth he had very little to do - even despite the mounting tension - everything Brad Jones did was to perfection. When he came for crosses he was positive and made sure he wasn't going to fumble and when McAnuff fired a shot from the edge of the box he palmed it far away from any danger. A player who hadn't quite had the same impact was Nuri Sahin. His initial movement was fantastic but had failed to really put a mark on the game in any significant way. That's not a dampener on his obvious quality as within a flash of his boot he suddenly sent Sterling away down the wing. Had his cross then been converted by Suarez instead of being blazed over, everyone would have congratulated the Turk for opening up their defence in the first place. As it was, his afternoons work came to an end shortly after with Shelvey coming back from suspension being subbed on in his place. The change nearly came off right away, with Jonjo and Suarez linking up to force a corner. Despite creating good chances, despite our opponents having not had any real joy, somehow the game remained in the balance.
A more adventurous side would perhaps have induced more menace. That's not a dig at Pogrebnyak either, who I think is a good Premier League striker and worked very hard but much like Suarez, when the burden of scoring is so high on one player sometimes they can do too much. We didn't have it easy, at least, that's the message the crowd were giving off anyway. So many times at Anfield the fans have had a rejuvenating effect and give our players almost superhuman powers, but I've also seen the gloom set in and that feeling of inevitability that something bad is going to happen - which half translated to the players. Defensively we weren't at our sharpest - apart from Brad Jones who was always on his toes - but Reading were giving us no reason for such alarm. It's a sign of the times in that we haven't won at home so much lately that the desperation to get that win leads to it feeling a whole lot harder than it should be.
The actual chances that were being created were all Liverpool. Reading would have a succession of set pieces or pounce on a loose pass but when we broke, we did so in numbers and were able to get at the heart of their defence. Gerrard had a shot that forced a save, likewise Suarez. Glen Johnson again was the furthest Liverpool player up the park when a free kick was half cleared and he linked with Sterling before following up on Agger's blocked shot. Another change was made, this time Jose Enrique making another step in his rehabilitation, coming on for Suso with about twenty minutes to go to stretch the game out on the left hand side, with Raheem going right. The change looked to have had an effect instantly with Gerrard, Wisdom and Sterling doing the same kind of good work we were doing on the left in the first half. With just over fifteen minutes to go, all we had to do was keep the ball like this and remain composed. Sounds a lot easier than it actually was.
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