Reading 0 Liverpool 0: We should have been more clinical – Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers admitted Liverpool should have been “more clinical” after the Reds were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Luis Suárez missed the pick of the visitors’ chances in the first half when the Uruguayan’s chipped effort beat Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy but was headed off the line by Chris Gunter.

The Reds continued to pour forward in the second half and created 26 chances in total as Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Suárez were all denied by Reading’s stand-in shot-stopper, who had not played since November.

When the Premier League’s top scorer had finally beaten McCarthy, the striker was denied by the woodwork, with Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina having to produce an instinctive save to deny Jobi McAnuff in the final 15 minutes.

“We created enough chances to win a couple of games. We are very disappointed we didn’t win,” Rodgers told BBC Sport.

“Their goalkeeper was outstanding and on another day the goals go in. It was as good a goalkeeping performance as I have seen in a long time.

“I can’t ask anything more of the players except that we should have been a wee bit more clinical.

“Our creativity and movement was very good. But we just didn’t do final bit – that is to put the ball in the net – and that cost us.”

Rodgers’ men are now five points behind Merseyside rivals and sixth-placed Everton, who have played one games less, after the Toffees’ 2-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers.