Reading 1, Liverpool 2 (D,Post)

Apr 9 2007 Ian Doyle at the Madejski stadium

THERE was a time when widespread support for Rafael Benitez’s rotation policy was about as likely as spotting Jimmy Tarbuck strolling around Liverpool city centre.

But under the gaze of everyone’s favourite gap-toothed Scouse comedian, the Spaniard’s strategy continued to reap rewards as his team took a significant step towards another top-four finish on Saturday.

Following their thumpings of Arsenal and then PSV Eindhoven, a fine week for Liverpool ended with a hard- earned victory on their first-ever visit to Reading.

With the Gunners in freefall after slumping once again, at home to West Ham United, it could prove a telling victory in ensuring Benitez’s men match their third-placed finish of last season.

As Steven Gerrard stated in midweek, Liverpool are now peaking at precisely the right time. And while admittedly never near to hitting the heights reached in their previous two games, on Saturday there was always a feeling the visitors could step up a gear if necessary.

That growing momentum and confidence in Liverpool’s play as the season approaches its climax certainly adds weight to Benitez’s argument that his constant tinkering with team selection will ultimately prevail.

The silverware lifted at the end of the previous two campaigns bears testimony to that. However, this season’s problem hasn’t been with the rotation policy itself, but rather the players Benitez has had to choose from.

A World Cup hangover and the acclimatisation of new signings may have played some part in Liverpool’s poor start, yet it was the lack of sufficient quality in depth that became the primary issue.

Indeed, it’s conspicuous that two January transfer window signings, Javier Mascherano and Alvaro Arbeloa, should have played a major role in Saturday’s fixture, for which Benitez made five changes from the team that won in Holland.

The Argentine, growing in confidence and stature with each appearance, dominated the midfield while his Spanish team- mate opened his Liverpool account with an expertly-taken strike.

“We can rest people like Alonso now that we have Mascherano,” said Benitez. “Bringing in the likes of Javier and Arbeloa can give us fresh legs to the end of the season. Javier is doing well, has passion, wants the ball, and keeps the ball well tactically.”

That Liverpool’s winner should then come from a combination between two substitutes, Jermaine Pennant crossing for Dirk Kuyt to head home four minutes from time, further demonstrated the glut of options now ready and available for Benitez.

“Liverpool had a bench with potential that can change things in an instant,” said Reading manager Steve Coppell. “That’s a big difference between the big boys and the rest.”

As Coppell conceded, Reading can’t compete with that resource. But then Liverpool aren’t competing with Reading.

Manchester United’s defeat to Portsmouth later on Saturday may mean the championship is still a mathematical possibility, but it is only delaying the inevitable.

Domestically, there remains a worrying gap to United and title rivals Chelsea, something Benitez, armed with the substantial transfer kitty that will be handed to him by the club’s new American owners, will look to bridge this summer. That is for another time, however, given third place and the Champions League are still very much to play for.

Saturday’s visit to Royal Berkshire brought out the king and queen of exiled Scouse royalty, with Cilla Black, close chum of Reading owner John Madejski, sat alongside Tarbuck. Michael Parkinson also jostled for position in a showbiz-centric directors box that included Russ Abbott – feel obliged to fill in your own jokes about the atmosphere at this point.

Coppell’s men have lost their way in recent weeks but were determined to put on a show, and began the brighter with Pepe Reina parrying a John Oster shot.

It was ironic, then, that it was a Reading free-kick that gave Liverpool the opening to move ahead on the quarter-hour. After Nicky Shorey’s effort from 25 yards looped off the defensive wall and into the air, Arbeloa, standing on the edge of his own area, chested the ball down and raced forward.

On entering the Reading half unchallenged, his first intended throughball to Bellamy was blocked but, after a neat one-two with Crouch had set him clear, Arbeloa ended a 70-yard run by finishing coolly over Marcus Hahnemann.

Liverpool then proceeded to preserve as much energy as possible in maintaining their lead, a decision that inevitably backfired two minutes after the interval when Stephen Hunt clipped a ball over the top for Brynjar Gunnarsson to drive an angled shot beyond Reina and in off the far post.

Hunt saw a shot deflected wide and Crouch unwittingly demonstrated the improvement in his aerial technique by heading an Oster free-kick against his own crossbar, while Gerrard was inches from turning in Kuyt’s attempt.

With Reading threatening more and more, Benitez sent on Pennant down the right and moved Gerrard – who started in a free role before migrating to the right – into the middle.

It was a wise move as Liverpool slowly turned the screw and came up with the winner on 86 minutes, Pennant doing well to cut inside and dig out an accurate cross for Kuyt to head home at the far post. Remarkably, it was the Dutchman’s first goal since netting in the 2-1 win at West Ham United on January 31.

And it just reward for the striker who, on his arrival, was industrious, willing and dangerous – everything Craig Bellamy, the man he replaced, was not.

The Welshman – who has played a full 90 minutes in the Premiership only once in the last four months – was having one of his surly days.

Starting on the right flank, he was quickly pushed up alongside Peter Crouch as Liverpool sought to play on the counter-attack, but grew increasingly disenchanted before being given the hook five minutes into the second half, an unconvincing claim for a penalty the last straw for Benitez.

The manager was diplomatic when pressed on the substitution of Bellamy, but the inference the striker hadn’t done enough was obvious.

“I was thinking about changing things,” said the Liverpool manager. “We weren’t creating a lot with the movements of the strikers and I wanted to change that by playing more in between the lines and using the wingers.

“Craig had a problem with an injury over the last week, and I thought that this would be a good game from him to play in. He had some chances in the first half with one or two runs, but we weren’t doing enough in attack so I changed it.”

Worries persist, too, over Mark Gonzalez, who appears a shadow of the player that impressed when on loan at Real Sociedad last season.

Both, though, could easily be given another opportunity when Liverpool aim to finish the job off against PSV at Anfield on Wednesdsay.

After all, few can question Benitez’s decisions just now. He seems to be getting it right at the right time once again.

READING (4-4-2): Hahnemann; Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson, Duberry (Bikey 46), Shorey; Oster (Lita 83), Sidwell, Harper, Hunt; Doyle, Kitson. Subs: Federici, Halford, Long.

BOOKINGS: Kitson (foul), Hahnemann (deliberate handball).

LIVERPOOL (4-4-1-1): Reina; Finna, Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa; Bellamy (Kuyt 50), Mascherano, Sissoko, Gonzalez (Riise 79); Gerrard; Crouch (Pennant 65). Subs: Dudek, Agger.

BOOKING: Sissoko (persistent fouling).

REFEREE: Philip Walton.

ATT: 24,121.

NEXT GAME: Liverpool v PSV Eindhoven, Champions League quarter-final second leg, Wednesday, 7.45pm.