Reading FC

Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Torres battles with Ivar Ingimarsson at Madejski Stadium during the 3-1 Royals win in 2007
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Reading FC to host Rafa Benitez's Liverpool in FA Cup third round

By Jonny Fordham
November 29, 2009

Reading will play seven times winners and Premier League giants Liverpool in third round of the FA Cup.

Brendan Rodgers’ side were ball number 32 in the draw from Wembley Stadium made by five-time Olympic gold medal winner Sir Steve Redgrave and England Ladies international Kelly Smith.

The last time Rafa Benitez’s side came to Madejski Stadium in 2007 Royals famously won the game 3-1 thanks to goals from Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle and James Harper – all of whom are no longer at the club.

Captain and England midfielder Steven Gerrard got the consolation for The Reds.

Ivar Ingimarsson, Brynjar Gunnarsson and Kalifa Cisse were the only current Reading players to take part in the top-flight fixture, with Adam Federici and Shane Long both on the bench.

The two sides have met just five times in all competitions with Royals losing the other four.

Last season Reading were knocked out of the Cup in the third round after they lost 2-0 away to Championship rivals Cardiff City.

It is expected that Rodgers will mix and match his first-team for the competition and give his fringe players a chance to shine without changing the whole 11.

Holders Chelsea and Rodgers’ old employers will face another of his old team’s Watford at Stamford Bridge. Fulham will play Swindon Town at Craven Cottage.

The ties will be played on the weekend of January 2nd and 3rd.

The full draw is:

Tottenham v Peterborough United
Brentford v Doncaster Rovers
Middlesbrough v Manchester City
Stoke City v York City
Notts County v Forest Green Rovers
Huddersfield Town v West Bromwich Albion
Sheffield United v QPR
MK Dons v Burnley
Chelsea v Watford
Nottingham Forest v Birmingham City
Preston North End v Colchester United
West Ham United v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers
Portsmouth v Coventry City
Sunderland v Oxford United or Barrow
Wigan Athletic v Hull City
Everton v Carlisle United
Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace
Tranmere Rovers or Aldershot Town v Wolves
Blackpool v Ipswich Town
Fulham v Swindon Town
Stockport County or Torquay v Brighton
Scunthorpe United v Barnsley
Southampton v Rotherham United or Luton Town
Bristol City v Cardiff City
Reading v Liverpool
Staines Town or Millwall v Derby County
Plymouth Argyle v Newcastle United
Leicester City v Swansea City
Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City
Accrington Stanley or Barnet v Gillingham
Manchester United v Kettering Town or Leeds United

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This cannot be good news for JM, large crowd, bonuses and xtra police, goes right against the grain in the relegation masterplan. Sell the stadium naming rights to London Irish and all will be well. How about getting shot of the directors high earners Sir John starting with the DOF.

David May, Estepona
30/11/2009 at 14:10

And not a welsh one!

mad dave, Reading
30/11/2009 at 11:07

Not exactly excited by this draw. I would have preferred a League 1 or 2 side away from home we haven't played for years and I'm sure a lot of Liverpool fans would feel the same way, Reading away for them is not exactly unknown territory.

At least we haven't got a team in our own division this time!

RYF, Royal County of Berkshire
30/11/2009 at 10:56

Hunt,Doyle,Harper, those were the days!!,Will we ever see the likes of them again?

jordans bra, reading
30/11/2009 at 09:05

CMON U RRRR'ZZ THE LAST TWO GAMES AGAINST LIVERPOOL WERE GREAT. WHAT A NIGHT THE WIN WAS. LOVE IT

mad dave, Reading
30/11/2009 at 08:28

I wonder if we'll stick to precedent and play our reserve side? You know, concentrate on the league and all that. Depending on what side Rafa puts out, and bearing in mind he only has the domestic cups to win this year, this could well be a double figure defeat.

Big P, Reading
30/11/2009 at 08:27

Well JM you have been lucky with the draw. I can imagine if Reading went on to win the FA cup, JM would still plead poverty. He would use the money on one of his other pet projects.