BBC SportsBIG-MATCH FACTS
Champions League quarter-finalists Liverpool are THE form team in the Premier League. The midweek conquerors of Inter Milan have won their last six in league and cup, and are vying for a fifth straight maximum in the league.
Liverpool have scored at least three goals in each of their last four league outings, and have totalled 13 goals in those wins, but suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at Reading in December.
Reading are chasing a 25th Premier League victory under Steve Coppell, and the third in a row; having beaten Middlesbrough (a) and Manchester City (h) after suffering eight successive league losses.
This match pits the clubs to have joint most draws (Liverpool 11) and the equal least (Reading, four). It also brings together the second most infrequent losers (Reds, three) with the second most frequent (Royals, 17).
Reading have not won in the North-West this season, and have lost their last four visits to the region.
These clubs are meeting for the third time this season. Reading won the reverse league fixture, having earlier been knocked out of the Carling Cup by the Reds. Those two matches produced 10 goals.
.
CLUB FORM
LIVERPOOL
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 4th Lowest could fall: 4th
All statistics and sequences refer to the Premier League only, unless otherwise stated.
1. Won every game since being knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley on 16 February - their only defeat in nine (all competitions).
2. Unbeaten in six; won five and drew one since defeat at West Ham on 30 January - their only loss in 13.
3. Lost three times; only Arsenal have been beaten less frequently (just once).
4. Drawn 11 - only Fulham match that.
5. Conceded 20 goals; only Manchester United (15) and Chelsea (17) have shipped fewer. Also, allowed the opposition to score first in six games; only Manchester United can better that (five times).
6. One of two clubs not have picked up a red card from matches in this league this season; Bolton is the other. Also, shown 37 cards; only Everton have a better disciplinary record with 33 cards (30 yellow, three red).
7. Registered five goalless draws. Only Portsmouth have also been involved in as many as that.
8. One goal short of conceding 600 all-time in this league.
9. Challenging for a fifth successive home victory, and not lost in seven on home soil. Manchester United is the only club to have left Anfield with all three points this season. Indeed, the 0-1 defeat to the Red Devils on 16 December is their only reverse in 19 home matches in over a year.
10. Four season-defining fixtures follow: Manchester United (a), Everton (h), Arsenal (a) and Blackburn (h).
.
LIVERPOOL
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 4th Lowest could fall: 4th
All statistics and sequences refer to the Premier League only, unless otherwise stated.
1. Won every game since being knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley on 16 February - their only defeat in nine (all competitions).
2. Unbeaten in six; won five and drew one since defeat at West Ham on 30 January - their only loss in 13.
3. Lost three times; only Arsenal have been beaten less frequently (just once).
4. Drawn 11 - only Fulham match that.
5. Conceded 20 goals; only Manchester United (15) and Chelsea (17) have shipped fewer. Also, allowed the opposition to score first in six games; only Manchester United can better that (five times).
6. One of two clubs not have picked up a red card from matches in this league this season; Bolton is the other. Also, shown 37 cards; only Everton have a better disciplinary record with 33 cards (30 yellow, three red).
7. Registered five goalless draws. Only Portsmouth have also been involved in as many as that.
8. One goal short of conceding 600 all-time in this league.
9. Challenging for a fifth successive home victory, and not lost in seven on home soil. Manchester United is the only club to have left Anfield with all three points this season. Indeed, the 0-1 defeat to the Red Devils on 16 December is their only reverse in 19 home matches in over a year.
10. Four season-defining fixtures follow: Manchester United (a), Everton (h), Arsenal (a) and Blackburn (h).
.
READING
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 12th Lowest could fall: 15th
All statistics and sequences refer to the Premier League only, unless otherwise stated.
1. Won the last two after an 11-game winless run in league and cup, the last seven of which were defeats.
2. Aiming to register three victories on the bounce for the first time since between 14 and 30 April last year; then the victories were against Fulham (h), Bolton (a) and Newcastle (h).
3. Not scored in the opening 15 minutes of any game so far this season; the earliest being Kalifa Cisse's 16th minute equaliser in the 6-4 defeat by Tottenham at White Hart Lane on 29 December.
4. Scored five goals in nine outings; three in the 90th minute, and one in the 88th. Also conceded more goals in the last 10 minutes than any other club (13); Liverpool have only shipped three in that time frame.
5. Vying for back-to-back wins over North-West clubs, having defeated Manchester City 2-0 at the Madejski last Saturday.
6. Lost 17 matches; only Derby have been beaten more often (21).
7. Drawn four games; only Manchester United have finished level that infrequently.
8. 15 points down, year on year.
9. Own the second weakest defence away from home; 34 goals conceded in 14 matches on their travels (Derby have shipped 39).
10. Home fixtures against Birmingham and Blackburn follow this, before visiting Newcastle.
.
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 12th Lowest could fall: 15th
All statistics and sequences refer to the Premier League only, unless otherwise stated.
1. Won the last two after an 11-game winless run in league and cup, the last seven of which were defeats.
2. Aiming to register three victories on the bounce for the first time since between 14 and 30 April last year; then the victories were against Fulham (h), Bolton (a) and Newcastle (h).
3. Not scored in the opening 15 minutes of any game so far this season; the earliest being Kalifa Cisse's 16th minute equaliser in the 6-4 defeat by Tottenham at White Hart Lane on 29 December.
4. Scored five goals in nine outings; three in the 90th minute, and one in the 88th. Also conceded more goals in the last 10 minutes than any other club (13); Liverpool have only shipped three in that time frame.
5. Vying for back-to-back wins over North-West clubs, having defeated Manchester City 2-0 at the Madejski last Saturday.
6. Lost 17 matches; only Derby have been beaten more often (21).
7. Drawn four games; only Manchester United have finished level that infrequently.
8. 15 points down, year on year.
9. Own the second weakest defence away from home; 34 goals conceded in 14 matches on their travels (Derby have shipped 39).
10. Home fixtures against Birmingham and Blackburn follow this, before visiting Newcastle.
.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
LIVERPOOL
Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with 26 goals, and their leading marksman in the Premier League with 19. TORRES needs one goal to become only the second player to score at least 20 Premier League goals for Liverpool in a season. Robbie Fowler scored 25 in 1994-95, and 28 in 1995-96.
The Spanish striker has scored 89% of his league goals at Anfield (17). No other player has scored as many Premier League goals in front of their home supporters this season.
Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
.
LIVERPOOL
Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with 26 goals, and their leading marksman in the Premier League with 19. TORRES needs one goal to become only the second player to score at least 20 Premier League goals for Liverpool in a season. Robbie Fowler scored 25 in 1994-95, and 28 in 1995-96.
The Spanish striker has scored 89% of his league goals at Anfield (17). No other player has scored as many Premier League goals in front of their home supporters this season.
Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
.
READING
Dave KITSON is Reading's top scorer with nine Premier League goals.
Marcus HAHNEMANN is the only remaining player to have been involved in every minute of every one of Reading's Premier League matches this term.
If selected:-
Graeme MURTY will be making his 50th Premier League appearance - all for Reading.
If on the field from the outset:-
Kevin DOYLE will be making his 100th start in a Reading shirt.
Dave KITSON is Reading's top scorer with nine Premier League goals.
Marcus HAHNEMANN is the only remaining player to have been involved in every minute of every one of Reading's Premier League matches this term.
If selected:-
Graeme MURTY will be making his 50th Premier League appearance - all for Reading.
If on the field from the outset:-
Kevin DOYLE will be making his 100th start in a Reading shirt.
.
HEAD TO HEAD
Reading pulled off a major shock in winning the reverse fixture 3-1, to set up the possibility of a first ever league double over Liverpool.
The Reds, who did the double over the Royals last season, will want to avenge that result at the Madejski in December, as it ended their unbeaten Premier League start to the season.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 2 wins, Reading 1, Draws 0Prem: Liverpool 2 wins, Reading 1, Draws 0
at Liverpool onlyLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 1 win, Reading 0, Draws 0Prem: Liverpool 1 win, Reading 0, Draws 0
HEAD TO HEAD
Reading pulled off a major shock in winning the reverse fixture 3-1, to set up the possibility of a first ever league double over Liverpool.
The Reds, who did the double over the Royals last season, will want to avenge that result at the Madejski in December, as it ended their unbeaten Premier League start to the season.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 2 wins, Reading 1, Draws 0Prem: Liverpool 2 wins, Reading 1, Draws 0
at Liverpool onlyLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 1 win, Reading 0, Draws 0Prem: Liverpool 1 win, Reading 0, Draws 0
.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Liverpool 2-0 Reading4 November 2006 - Ref: Uriah RennieLiverpool scorers: Kuyt 14, 73
.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Liverpool 2-0 Reading4 November 2006 - Ref: Uriah RennieLiverpool scorers: Kuyt 14, 73
.
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Reading 3-1 Liverpool8 December 2007 - Ref: Andre Marriner Reading scorers: Hunt 17 pen, Doyle 60, Harper 67Liverpool scorer: Gerrard 28
Reading 3-1 Liverpool8 December 2007 - Ref: Andre Marriner Reading scorers: Hunt 17 pen, Doyle 60, Harper 67Liverpool scorer: Gerrard 28
No comments:
Post a Comment