THE biggest challenge in writing this report is to offer any observations that haven’t been noted previously.
Liverpool’s dominance of their opposition with scant reward can hardly attract any original analysis when this has been a far too regular occurrence for nearly two full seasons.
What can be said however that this match in particular was remarkable even by Liverpool’s standards. Only God (and Alex McCarthy) knows how Liverpool have a ‘0’ after their name following this fixture.
It would be impossible to make a detailed note of every goalscoring opportunity for Liverpool, they were far too numerous – and it didn’t take long for the chances to clock up either.
On 14 minutes, Luis Suarez’s delicate chip was cleared off the line by Chris Gunter. Soon after, Daniel Sturridge was put through on goal but his eventual shot was saved by Alex McCarthy. Then, on 21 minutes, Philippe Coutinho’s low curling shot was saved smartly by Reading’s keeper.
Chances continued to fall Liverpool’s way during the first half, aided in particular by sharp interchanges between an attacking triumvirate of Sturridge, Suarez and Coutinho.
On 33 minutes, Sturridge pounced on a poor pass in Reading’s defensive third (a regular occurrence throughout the game) and slipped in Suarez, who was again thwarted by McCarthy.
Minutes later, after a penalty area melee, the ball fell to Coutinho with the goal at his mercy, but he sliced the ball way over the bar; and finally, on the stroke of half-time, Daniel Sturridge had an effort from six yards saved miraculously by McCarthy.
During the first 20 minutes of the second half, Liverpool hit a brief lull in their demolishing of the home side, but began to create further opportunities soon after the hour mark. Philippe Coutinho’s brilliant side footed effort from a tight angle at the edge of the box floated agonisingly wide.
Inevitably, Reading were encouraged by their unlikely parity with Liverpool and they nearly took a completely undeserved lead on two separate occasions, not long after Coutinho’s effort.
First, Noel Hunt slid in to meet a Jobi McAnuff cross, only for Pepe Reina to smother his effort brilliantly. Secondly, Reina had to tip over acrobatically when McAnuff fired a shot at goal from just inside the area.
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In between Reading’s chances, Coutinho fired wide following a superb Daniel Sturridge cross, and on 78 minutes, Luis Suarez’s fantastic curled free-kick from 30 yards clipped the outside of the right hand post.
In the 81st minute, the Uruguayan was denied again by McCarthy when his dribble and left footed shot was saved low by the big stopper. On 84 minutes, substitute Stewart Downing cut inside from the right wing and fired just wide of the near post with a low left footed effort.
Liverpool’s bombardment of Reading was beginning to reach its peak, unfortunately however, so too were Alex McCarthy’s goalkeeping powers.
In the 85th minute, he produced a world class reflex save from Steven Gerrard, who had met a low Stewart Downing cross from the right hand side.
He wasn’t anywhere finished, indeed he saved low from Luis Suarez’s half volley just minutes later and even held onto the ball for good measure.
Finally, after Daniel Sturridge fired over when put clean through on goal in injury time, McCarthy would put the icing on his cake just before the final whistle when he flung himself brilliantly at Luis Suarez’s powerful drive and tipped the ball around the post.
We have seen some bizarre results over the last two years, but this game arguably tops the lot.
Just when you think that Liverpool cannot be involved in another game like this, they seem to surpass the wildest of expectations by failing to secure victory when in reality they created enough chances to win half a dozen league fixtures.
The performance of Alex McCarthy was miraculous. Brendan Rodgers described his performance as one of the best he has witnessed from any goalkeeper, and it would be hard to argue.
This was unfortunate for Liverpool, especially when great goalkeeping performances seem to haunt the club in their very recent history, however, it would be unhelpful of the club’s coaching staff to ignore their continued profligacy.
Not every chance was met by a great McCarthy save, many were poor finishes that players of this level should be despatching with far greater regularity.
In terms of Liverpool’s European hopes, if the final nail had been inserted into their coffin prior to this fixture, then their coffin has now been placed six foot under.
How fitting that this final separation from the upper echelons of the Premier League should come after a game of unforgivable wastefulness and a world class goalkeeping performance.
L4L Man of the Match: Philippe Coutinho. The little Brazilian may have contributed in terms of the wider team’s poor performance in front of goal, but his very intelligent attacking play is now matched with increased fitness and intensity. He continues to grow in a Liverpool shirt and long may it continue.
Follow me on Twitter: @antonyjlfc
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