Reading keeper on top form to deny Reds

An inspired goalkeeping performance from Alex McCarthy restricted Liverpool to a point at Reading's Madejski Stadium yesterday afternoon. The 23-year goalkeeper, a product of Reading's Academy, pulled off a host of stunning saves in his first match since November to deny the Reds the victory their dominant performance arguably deserved. At the other end, his opposite number made a couple of impressive saves as well to prevent the home side stealing all three points late on.

Before kick-off, an emotional minute's silence to commemorate the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives at the Hillsborough disaster 24 years ago tomorrow was impeccably observed.

Liverpool's players remember the 96

Brendan Rodgers made one change to the team that was held to a goalless draw versus West Ham at Anfield six days earlier, as Daniel Sturridge started in place of Stewart Downing, who dropped to the substitutes' bench.

After a scrappy start, Liverpool beat goalkeeper McCarthy for perhaps the only time after quarter of an hour, although frustratingly Chris Gunter managed to clear off the line to deny the Merseysiders an early opening goal that might well have changed the course of the contest.

An excellent team move involving the ever improving Henderson, the delightful Coutinho and a dummy from the inventive Sturridge released Suarez in space in the Reading box. His clipped effort evaded the keeper but was impressively cleared off the line by Gunter to thwart the Uruguyuan.

Three more chances followed in quick succession, as Sturridge's shot from an awkward angle was blocked after Suarez had played him through and Coutinho's follow-up attempt was smartly turned behind for a corner by McCarthy. Jamie Carragher, of all people, connected with the subsequent set-piece, watching his header glide past the far post.

With still no pressure from the dire Reading, who seemed to have accepted their fate, Liverpool continued to craft chances, Suarez's strike being beaten out to Gerrard, whose controlled effort after an awkward bounce of the ball was deflected wide of the target.

There was one more goalscoring opportunity before the break, as Suarez swung a left wing corner into the box after Henderson's drilled strike was deflected narrowly wide. The ball fell to Sturridge, who was denied by a crucial stop from McCarthy from point blank range.

During the interval, it felt like it was going to be one of those days again. That feeling intensified a few minutes after the break when Coutinho wonderfully found the net but his effort was ruled out for offside. Gerrard centred from the right and the diminutive Brazilian fantastically sent the ball into the net with a deft flick of his back heel, but the linesman rightly flagged for offside.

Coutinho's brilliant skill went unrewarded

After Coutinho had sent a powerful side-footed strike just wide, Reading responded with a quarter of the match left. Firstly, Hunt and the spectacularly named Pavel Pogrebnyak combined, with the latter squaring to the former, who was excellently placed to net an undeserved opener. Thankfully, Reina, who had had his proverbial pipe and slippers out up until this point, retained his concentration and produced a vital block. 

Nigel Adkins' side seemed to feel they might be able to pinch a win after somehow managing to remain in a contest that should have been over after 45 minutes. Reina was called into action once again on 76 minutes, tipping Jobi McAnuff's goal-bound drive over the bar.

Fortunately, unlike what might have happened in previous games, Liverpool didn't allow the hosts to dominate the closing stages and instead continued to pursue a winner themselves. Unfortunately, McCarthy appeared to relish the amount of work he had to do, producing save after wonder save to keep his team in the match.

Suarez's curling free kick clipped the post on its way wide, before Downing's shot went just the wrong side of the post. McCarthy then superbly denied Steven Gerrard, before astonishingly catching a sweet volley from Suarez and also punching clear another effort from the bewildered number seven in injury time. 

In the final analysis, it's clear that McCarthy made the difference. His world-class performance meant Liverpool failed to score in successive games for the first time in 14 matches. As a result, any European ambitions are quickly evaporating and, even more embarrassingly, Everton appear increasingly likely to finish above us in the table.

On the positive side, Pepe Reina kept a clean sheet and the Reds' attack seemed to be in relatively good form, although they obviously left their shooting boots back on Merseyside! Suarez, Sturridge, Coutinho and co. will have to remember to wear them next week if they are to score the goals that defeat Rafael Benitez's Chelsea on the Spaniard's return to Anfield.

Justice for the 96, YNWA