Liverpool will travel to the Madejski on Saturday afternoon, to face a Reading side facing almost certain relegation. The Royals are stuck at the bottom of the Premier League table with only 23 points and six games to go in the season. Their visitors are seventh and chasing local rivals Everton, who are three points above them. The reverse fixture, at Anfield, finished 1-0 to the Reds, with youngster Raheem Sterling the hero.

Adam Le Fondre (C)
Reuters

Where to Watch

Kick-off is set for 3pm BST. Highlights will be available on Match of the Day on BBC One and BBC One HD, from 10.20pm BST.

Overview

Reading's new boss Nigel Adkins faces a monstrously difficult task to save the club from relegation. The team have lost seven games on the trot coming into this fixture and have conceded 17 times in the process; their last game was a 0-2 home defeat to Southampton.

Unfortunately for fans, there doesn't seem much hope of a late-season revival. Home form has been poor, with only four wins from 16 games and they still have to host Manchester City and, more importantly, fellow relegation strugglers Queens Park Rangers.

The Reds travel on the back of a reasonably strong run of form that has seen them win four of their last seven games in all competitions. The shock defeat at Southampton aside, Liverpool have actually done quite well away from home, with a big 4-0 win at Wigan and a 2-1 defeat of Villa. The problem, though, is that they tend to be rather more porous at the back when travelling; they've conceded 26 times, more than any side above them in the standings.

Liverpool may still harbour dreams of European football next season, if they can maintain pressure on Everton in sixth and Arsenal in fifth. However, any slip-ups, particularly with the form the Gunners are in, will likely prove the end of a challenge for a top five place.

Team Form

Reading

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): L L L L L
  • Last Match: Reading 0 - 2 Southampton

Liverpool

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): D W L W W
  • Last Match: Liverpool 0 - 0 West Ham
Steven Gerrard
Reuters

Team News

Jason Roberts (thigh) and Jimmy Kebe (groin) are unavailable and Hope Akpan is a doubt after a knock in the last game. Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak may replace Akpan and partner former Manchester United youngster Adam Le Fondre up front.

Probable Line-Up: Federici; Kelly, Mariappa, Morrison, Gunter; Robson-Kanu, Karacan, Guthrie, McAnuff; Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak

Raheem Sterling (thigh) is injured and he joins Fabio Borini, Joe Allen and Martin Kelly on the sidelines; the last three are all ruled out for the season.

Probable Line-Up: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson; Coutinho, Sturridge, Suarez

Manchester United FC