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Home  » Sports » Reading end Liverpool unbeaten run

Reading end Liverpool unbeaten run

December 09, 2007 09:19 IST
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Reading ended Liverpool's unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a shock 3-1 win over Rafa Benitez's team at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

- Man United, Chelsea keep pressure on Arsenal

The result left fourth-placed Liverpool seven points behind leaders Arsenal while Manchester United and Chelsea maintained their title challenges with home wins over Derby County and Sunderland respectively.

United beat bottom club Derby 4-1 at Old Trafford where Ryan Giggs scored his 100th league goal. Chelsea overcame Sunderland 2-0 to extend their unbeaten home league record to 71 matches.

Arsenal, who visit Middlesbrough on Sunday, have 37 points from 15 matches. United have 36 from 16, Chelsea 34 from 16 and Liverpool 30 from 15.

Fifth-placed Portsmouth, who won 3-1 at Aston Villa, are also on 30 points alongside Manchester City, who play at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Mid-table Reading's victory was their first against one of the so-called 'Big Four' clubs since gaining promotion in 2005-06.

They took the lead with a controversial 17th-minute penalty from Stephen Hunt after Jamie Carragher clearly fouled Ivar Ingimarsson outside the box.

Stephen Gerrard equalised for Liverpool in the 28th but a goal from Kevin Doyle and a fine individual effort by James Harper in the 67th gave Reading the points.

Liverpool manager Benitez complained that Reading should not have been awarded their penalty.

"I think it was outside the area. Why was it not a yellow card? If it was a penalty, it should have been a yellow card," he told Setanta television.

"It was a strange game. We have to think about the positives -- no injuries."

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Source: REUTERS
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