The Reading Royals will play hosts to Liverpool on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the Madejski Stadium. The game is scheduled to start at 1500 GMT. The reverse fixture earlier in the season, at Anfield, was a 1-0 victory for the Reds.
Reading lost their previous fixture 2-0 to Southampton and will have to play out of their skins to get something from this game. Liverpool played out a goalless draw last week that further dented their chances of ending the season in a European spot. A victory in the game is crucial.
Reading Royals will be looking to get their first points under their new boss ex-Southampton manager, Nigel Adkins.
The newly appointed boss is yet to win a game or draw one since taking charge at the Madejski Stadium. His team will face a Brendan Rodger’s side that will look to win every game to finish up higher up the table.
Reading seem to be fighting a lost cause to save themselves from relegation s they sit at the bottom of the table having the worst goal difference. Jason Roberts who has a thigh injury and Jimmy Kebe with a groin injury will both miss this game. Hope Akpan is struggling with a knock picked up last weekend and is also expected to sit this one out.
Pavel Pogrebnyak may take his place and join Adam Le Fondre in a two-man attack for Reading.
Liverpool has doubts over Stewart Downing as he is ill and hence Daniel Sturridge is expected to start upfront ad pair up with the in-form Luis Suarez.
Youngster Raheem Sterling has been ruled out of the remainder of the season with a thigh injury and joins striker Fabio Borini, midfilder Joe Allen and right back Martin Kelly who are all set to miss the rest of the season.
Expected Line-ups:
Reading: Adam Federici, Stephen Kelly, Adrian Mariappa, Sean Morrison, Chris Gunter, Hal Robson-Kanu, Jem Karacan, Danny Guthrie, Jobi McAnuff, Adam Le Fondre, Pavel Pogrebnyak
Liverpool: Jose Reina, Glenn Johnson, Jammie Carragher, Daniel Agger, Jose Enrique, Steven Gerrard, Lucas Levia, Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez
Prediction: Reading 1-3 Liverpool