Benitez in crisis as Liverpool go out of FA Cup

Liverpool 1 Reading 2. Liverpool were dumped out of the FA Cup last night by Reading thanks to an extra-time strike from Shane Long, a result that dramatically shortens the odds on Rafa Benitez remaining in his job much longer.

Having failed to qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions League, and way off the pace in the Premier League, Liverpool viewed the FA Cup as the ideal competition in which to salvage some silverware as well as some pride.

The Liverpool faithful were in good voice as Argentinean striker Maxi Rodriguez was introduced to them on the Anfield turf prior to kick-off. The 29-year-old had completed his move from Atletico Madrid that afternoon and was doubtless looking forward to watching his new side progress comfortably to a fourth-round tie against Burnley.  

Liverpool looked much the stronger in the opening exchanges in a team that showed four changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Reading in the initial tie. The visitors, in contrast, without a win in their last five Championship matches, seemed almost overwhelmed by the atmosphere in a stadium where they had never won.

Liverpool came close to taking the lead early on when only a sharp piece of defending by Ivar Ingimarsson prevented Steven Gerrard's cross being buried in the back of the Reading net by Yossi Benayoun.

But Reading settled as the first half progressed and strikes from Simon Church and Gylfi Sigurdsson both forced Liverpool keeper Diego Cavalieri into action. Reading's robust approach was clearly unsettling the home side and Torres, who had collided with Matthew Mills in the second minute, limped off on the half-hour mark to be replaced by David Ngog.

Ngog was involved in the build-up to the Liverpool goal on the stroke of half-time when he played a one-two with Gerrard, whose shot then took a deflection off Reading defender Ryan Bertrand to evade Reading keeper Adam Federici.
 
It was the last the Anfield crowd was to see of Gerrard as a hamstring injury kept him in the dressing room for the second-half. His steadying influence was desperately needed by Liverpool as the second period wore on and Reading's hunt for an equaliser became more desperate. Ingimarsson was given a gilt-edged chance by Brian Howard's sweet cross but somehow the Icelander contrived to miss the ball.
 
It seemed Liverpool had withstood the Reading pressure as the game moved into stoppage time but then came a moment of high drama as Benayoun felled Shane Long in the penalty box with a clumsy tackle. Referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot and  Sigurdsson kept his cool to level the scores.
 
Ten minutes into extra-time Reading grabbed the winner when Bryn Gunnarsson evaded the Liverpool defence down the right and crossed for Long to head past Cavalieri. Liverpool frantically tried to drag themselves back into the tie but Ryan Babel, Jamie Carragher and Ngog all spurned opportunities late on.

Benitez, who was booed by fans as he left the pitch at the end of the game, said later: "This is really bad. Everybody wanted to progress in the FA Cup so we are really disappointed. For the last three months, everybody has been talking about me. I have to move on and keep working hard. I will try to do my best every time. We are all frustrated, but we have to carry on."

Benitez's misery was compounded by the injuries to Gerrard's hamstring and Torres's knee, both of which might necessitate a spell on the sidelines: "We won't know until tomorrow when they will have scans and the doctors will know more," said the beleaguered Liverpool boss. ·