BIG-MATCH FACTS
The tie in context
• This is one of three third round replays between a Premier League and a Championship club.
Gulf in class
• At 21st in the Championship, Reading are 34 places lower than Liverpool.
Fourth Round draw
• Prize for the winners is a home tie with Premier League Burnley.
Head-to-head
FA Cup records and best performances
• The draw at the Madejski Stadium at the beginning of the year, was the first time Reading and Liverpool had met in the FA Cup.
Reading 1-1 Liverpool (2 Jan, FA Cup)
• Prior to that, these clubs have met four times in the Premier League, and twice in the League Cup, and Liverpool have won five of them.
• In all, their seven games have produced 27 goals.
• The Royals have lost all three of their competitive visits to Liverpool.
The clubs
LIVERPOOL
Current form
• Won two and drawn one of their last three in all competitions, and lost one in five.
FA Cup form
• The Reds have only been knocked out in the third round once since they last won the cup for the seventh time in 2006. Arsenal ended their interest with a 3-1 victory at Anfield in January 2007.
• Merseyside rivals Everton ended their run in the fourth round last season. They made round five in the previous campaign, before Championship strugglers Barnsley dismissed them.
READING
Current form
• The managerless Royals have not won in five games (D4, L2).
FA Cup form
• They are hoping to progress beyond the third round for the first time in three seasons.
Match officials
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Assistant referees: Andy Garratt & Bobby Madley
Fourth official: Rob Shoebridge
Source: BBC Sport
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