As in the first game, Reading made light of their lowly league standing and sought to pressurise Liverpool at every opportunity.

They were aided by another poor showing from Benitez’s side, who struggled to maintain any concerted possession and demonstrated an almost chronic lack of creativity against the most basic of organised defending.

That Reading didn’t capitalise was down to some dismal finishing, most notably midway through the half when a break from the visitors saw Simon Church race down the right flank, cut inside Daniel Agger and send in a low cross to the far post where Grzegorz Rasiak, perhaps distracted by the nearby Jamie Carragher, contrived to spoon the ball over from four yards.

There was more of the same shortly afterwards when another lightning counter-attack ended with Jobi McAnuff, Liverpool’s chief tormentor at the Madejski, centring from the right and Church failing to connect with a diving header with the goal gaping.

At the other end, Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici had to wait until the 41st minute before being called into any serious action, safely clutching a David Ngog shot after a decent run off the left wing from the striker, replacement for the stricken Torres.

However, the goal Reading had threatened finally arrived in first-half stoppage time. Unfortunately for the visitors, it was into their own net, Bertrand deflecting Gerrard’s cross past Federici.

Gerrard’s absence prompted a tactical reshuffle in the second half from Benitez, and their attacking efforts benefited from a switch to 4-4-2.

Kuyt hit a volley over on the turn from Benayoun’s cross and, moments after being booked for simulation inside the area, Degen had a more legitimate claim for a penalty when tangling with Church.

Agger fizzed an effort wide from range after Aquilani’s initial free-kick was blocked by the wall, and the Italian almost added a second on 70 minutes with a brave diving header from another Benayoun cross.

Liverpool were almost made to pay for not netting a second when, in the 80th minute, McAnuff pounced on a loose Aquilani pass just inside his own half and embarked on a direct run that took him past four defenders before sidefooting a shot inches wide.

But Reading eventually forced an extra half-hour with a penalty deep in injury time, Sigurdsson sending Cavalieri the wrong way from the spot after Benayoun had unwisely hacked at substitute Shane Long. The visitors then went ahead on 100 minutes when Bryn Gunnarsson tricked Emiliano Insua down the left and crossed inside the six-yard box for Long to head home.

Benayoun missed a chance to atone for his earlier error when he shot straight at Federici, Carragher shot over from 25 yards and Ngog swiped at a good opening, but the game was up for Liverpool.

Whether it is for Benitez remains to be seen.