DIRK KUYT grabbed two goals to secure Liverpool's fourth home win in 11 days.

The Dutchman netted in each half to consign hard-working Reading to their fourth successive Premiership defeat.

The new-promoted Berkshire side worked hard and defended in depth but they only bothered Liverpool from setpieces.

Reading manager Steve Coppell had told his team not to be frightened of Liverpool and they started with a positive attitude. Jose Reina clattered into Stephen Hunt inside a minute before the player responded with a low drive which bounced wide of the far post.

Glenn Little got away on the right after seven minutes and found Bryn Gunnarsson 10 yards out but his crisp shot hit Jamie Carragher and bounced just wide. But with Steven Gerrard back into central midfield and working to pull the strings Liverpool were ahead after 14 minutes. Gerrard chipped into the box and, with Marcus Hahnemann in two minds whether to come for the ball, it was nodded down by Peter Crouch for Dirk Kuyt to score into an open goal six yards.

Another Gerrard ball into the box was met by Kuyt's flicked header, Hahnemann saving well to his left.

Jermain Pennant tested Hahnemann from 20 yards and then Jamie Carragher . . .

on his 300th league appearance for the club . . . raced from the back to drive just over the angle. Reading strung five across the back and left Kevin Doyle up front, attempting to deny Liverpool space for their passing moves. But it was a struggle to halt the flow of the home side. Kuyt had a long-rang shot deflected wide and saw two headers bounce across goal, and Reading did well to survive until the break without further damage.

Carragher had to be sharp to force the ball away from Stephen Hunt in the box, but Liverpool were soon back on the offensive with Sami Hyypia coming forward to boost their attacking numbers.

Steve Sidwell was booked for dissent as Reading made the most of their best ammunition from set-pieces, and there were some anxious moments in the Liverpool defence. Sam Sodje was booked on 64 minutes for clattering into the back of Kuyt. By now Liverpool's pace had dropped and Reading were happy to sit deep and block all the avenues.

It was no surprise when Mark Gonzalez replaced Boudewijn Zenden on 65 minutes in an attempt to add some variety and movement.

Gerrard headed wide from Pennant's corner before Ibrahima Sonko forced the ball home from a corner only for the effort to be ruled out because of a foul on Reina.

However, Liverpool's second was not far off. Pennant's 73rd-minute corner was met by Crouch's head and the ball hit Hahnemann before dropping for Kuyt to force home from three yards.

Little's corner ruffled Reina again with Hunt seeing a header blocked but Liverpool held on for a clean sheet.