Match Report:
Can't look: Liverpool sub Ngog can't believe what
he's seeing
This was as bad as it gets in a shocker of a season in
which the Reds have been bundled out of the Champions League and
plummeted out of contention in the Premier League title race.
The FA Cup was the only domestic trophy Liverpool had
left to fight for and that has gone too - after Championship
strugglers Reading came to town and performed
magnificently.
The Kop are turning on their manager for the first
time. They have been incredibly loyal to the Spanish boss but this
was just too much.
Seeing the Royals, who are fighting against relegation
to League One, taking the game to them at Anfield and dominating
was embarrassing. They were unlucky not to win the first game at
the Madejski Stadium and Shane Long's extra-time clincher was just
reward for their efforts.
What a boost this will be to caretaker-boss Brian
McDermott, who must surely get the job full-time now. Manchester
United's loss to Leeds at Old Trafford was a sensational cup upset
- but Liverpool's defeat was much more significant. Legends like
Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush sat ashen-faced in the directors' box,
contemplating how it has come to this.
This was the strongest team Rafa had available, apart
from resting keeper Pepe Reina for Diego Cavalieri. And from the
moment the Italian punched away Gylfi Sigurdsson's early free-kick,
it was clear Reading were not going to roll over.
McDermott's marauders should have been ahead when Simon
Church, scorer in the first game, easily beat the flat-footed
Daniel Agger and his low cross was an absolute belter.
Jamie Carragher did not know whether to stick or twist
and ended up letting the ball go - much to the surprise of Grzegorz
Raziak who shinned the ball wide from four yards.
Soon after, livewire Jobi McAnuff sprinted away after a
Liverpool corner was cleared and his cross was begging Church to
head home. Church launched himself forward six yards out but
totally failed to connect and Liverpool escaped again.
The Reds announced the acquisition of Argy attacking
midfielder Maxi Rodriguez on a 3½-year contract before kick-off and
he was introduced to the crowd. He must have wished he had only
signed in pencil and that he could rub his name out after this
shambles.
Liverpool's cause was not helped by losing Torres
before the half-hour. The Spaniard was clattered early on by
Reading centre-back Matthew Mills, twisting his knee in the
process, and never properly recovered. Yet his team-mates forced a
goal just before the break, although it was a move which summed up
their performance - scruffy.
Steven Gerrard burst into the box, took a return from
David Ngog, and then side-footed a cross which went in off the
unfortunate Ryan Bertrand. However, Gerrard felt a twinge to his
hamstring and did not return for the second half.
Reading seemed destined to finish the night as plucky
losers as skipper Ivar Ingimarsson put a great headed chance wide
from four yards. Then with 10 minutes left McAnuff made a
sensational 60-yard run into the penalty area and was faced with a
one-on-one against Cavalieri. Had he scored it would have been one
of the greatest FA Cup goals of all-time but he shot agonisingly
wide.
Sigurdssson was also denied by Cavalieri but, in the
final minute, substitute Long was clipped by Yossi Benayoun and ref
Phil Dowd pointed to the spot. Up stepped Sigurdsson, who calmly
despatched his spot-kick to take the game into
extra-time.
The Royals tails were up and they were not interested
in holding out for penalties. And as the clock ticked over to the
100th minute, a sensational run down the right by Brynjar
Gunnarsson opened up the Liverpool defence and his cross was
perfect for Long who glanced home a header.
The dream was well and truly on for Reading and the
nightmare was becoming a reality for Liverpool. There was brief
hope when Benayoun broke through with only Adam Federici to beat
but the keeper stayed strong and got down to save.
Reading have suffered since relegation so it was only
right that they milked a famous moment of triumph. As for
Liverpool, the recriminations are going to be hard and long. Rafa
surely cannot survive much longer.