Reading and Liverpool shared a 1-1 draw in an exciting FA Cup third round match at the Madejski Stadium. Brian McDermott's men certainly scared the daylights out of Rafael Benitez' star studded team when Simon Church put Reading in front in the 24th minute. Liverpool levelled the scores nine minutes before the break when Stephen Gerrard hit a long-range equaliser. However, the Premier League giants were left in no doubt that they had an extremely hard game on their hands as Reading showed the mettle to lift the morale of all those cheering them on.

From the outset Reading displayed a tenacity and hunger to cause an upset. After a relatively slow start both sides began to craft together a fast paced match. Rising to the occasion, Reading's players were causing Liverpool real problems. However the first moment of genuine Reading threat came in the 23rd minute. Gylfi Sigurdsson muscled his way into the Liverpool penalty area and appeared to be pushed to the floor. The referee Mr Atkinson was not interested in the Reading appeals for a penalty.

Despite Reading's disappointment, a minute later they were in the lead. Simon Church slammed the ball home off his knee, after a neat cut back from Grzegorz Rasiak found Reading's striker inside the penalty box. Liverpool appeared bewildered, but Reading most certainly deserved to be ahead. Reading's lead lasted for a dozen minutes. A rampaging run from Stephen Gerrard concluded with the Liverpool captain crossing the ball towards goal. However the ball deceived his team mate Dirk Kuyt and Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici and spun into the back of the Reading net. There were questions asked as to whether or not Kuyt was in an offside position but the television replays proved that the Dutch striker was onside.

Having got level, Liverpool appeared dangerous in the closing exchanges of the first half. Gerrard could have given the Reds the lead two minutes after his goal, when a Kalifa Cisse clearance fell to him. However the England man lofted an effort over the Reading crossbar. Two minutes before the break, Fernando Torres also came close to scoring but found Adam Federici in his way. Although Liverpool finished the first half stronger than the hosts, the scores appropriately remained level.

The second half produced no further goals, but both sides had their chances to win the tie. Gylfi Sigurdsson drilled in a shot from all of 30 yards ten minutes into the second half, but was denied a goal when Liverpool's goalkeeper, Pepe Reina palmed the ball away from the goal. Jobi McAnuff was causing real danger for the Liverpool defence, taking them all on and putting dangerous crosses into the Liverpool penalty area. Liverpool though nearly stole the win in the last minute when Torres headed a Yossi Benayoun cross onto the roof of the Reading net.

A Liverpool win would have been cruel on Reading. Instead Reading has a replay at Anfield on Wednesday week. The draw should give Reading momentum to build on in 2010. The collective performance was important, but the individual performances by Jobi McAnuff, Jem Karcan and Simon Church were crucial to Reading getting the draw. All three players can take heart for what promises to be a difficult second half to the season. In the meantime Reading can enjoy the headlines after the draw and can look forward to a trip to Anfield, where as far as the FA Cup is concerned, anything is possible.

By Stuart Croucher