Here are the best pre-match facts compiled by LFC statto Ged Rea ahead of the Reading clash...

The teams last met in the Premier League in the 2007-08 season with the Reds tasting their first defeat in the 15th game of the campaign at the Madejski. Reading won 3-1 with Steven Gerrard equalising Stephen Hunt's penalty before Kevin Doyle and James Harper clinched the points for the hosts.

In the return at Anfield, the Royals again took the lead through Marek Matejovsky after five minutes before Javier Mascherano netted his first Liverpool goal. Fernando Torres scored the winner early in the second half.

The only survivors of that last league meeting are Liverpool's Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard, and Nicky Shorey and Jimmy Kebe of Reading.

The teams met more recently in the FA Cup third round in 2010. After a 1-1 draw in Berkshire, Reading came from behind after conceding an own goal to win 2-1. Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a stoppage-time equaliser from the spot with Shane Long hitting the winner. 

In all competitions Liverpool have won five, drawn one and lost two of the eight meetings but have won only one of the last four.

Liverpool are hoping to record back-to-back league clean sheets for the first time since February when they shut-out Wolves and Tottenham.

If Steven Gerrard is in the Reds' line-up at kick-off, it will be the first time since November 2010 he has started eight league games in a row.

Luis Suarez's seven goals this season have come in his last seven games.

Brendan Rodgers succeeded Steve Coppell as Reading boss in June 2009 with the Ulsterman recording six victories in his 23 games at the helm in league and cup.

Brian McDermott was appointed as Reading boss in December 2009 and has recorded 69 wins in 142 games in all competitions.

Away from home this season, the Royals have lost at Chelsea (2-4) and West Brom (0-1) and drawn 2-2 at Swansea two weeks ago.

They are one of three teams yet to record a Premier League win along with Norwich and QPR.

Two teams are looking to record their first clean sheet in the top flight this season - Reading and Southampton. Reading's last in the league came back in April when they beat Nottingham Forest in the Championship.

Kaspars Gorkss and Pogrebnyak are the only players to have started all eight of Reading's league and cup fixtures this season.

Leading scorers this season (league in brackets):
Liverpool: Suarez 7 (5), Gerrard 3 (2), Sahin 3 (1), Shelvey 3 (0), Borini 1 (0), Coates 1 (0), Downing 1 (0), Johnson 1 (0), Skrtel 1 (1), Wisdom 1 (0), own goals 2 (0).
Reading:  Pogrebnyak 4 (2), Hunt 2 (2), Gorkss 1 (0), Gunter 1 (0), Guthrie 1 (1), Kebe 1 (1), Le Fondre 1 (1), Robson-Kanu 1 (1), Shorey 1 (0), own goals 1 (0).