Liverpool moved a step closer to automatic Champions League qualification after Dirk Kuyt came off the bench to head home the winner against Reading five minutes from time.

With Arsenal losing at home to West Ham, the battling victory moved Liverpool five points clear of the Gunners in third place in the Barclays Premiership.

And it sets them up nicely for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, second leg tie against PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.

Kuyt will not be available after picking up a booking in the first leg - not that Liverpool should need him given they hold a 3-0 lead - but he proved the saviour at the Madejski Stadium.

The Dutchman popped up at the far post to head home Jermaine Pennant's lofted cross just when it appeared Reading had done enough to secure the draw.

Brynjar Gunnarson's low drive just after the restart had draw Reading level after Alvaro Arbeloa had given Liverpool the lead with his first goal in English football.

Arbeloa had come into the side as one of five changes made by manager Rafael Benitez and his strike came against the run of play. Hahnemann

Reading started well, with enough industry and energy to pin Liverpool back in their own half for the best part of 15 minutes.

They worked their chances too but despite the best efforts of John Oster down the wing and Stephen Hunt's tireless running Liverpool rarely looked in discomfort.

Ivar Ingamarsson did rise above Jamie Carragher to meet Oster's near post corner but powered his header over the bar.

And Oster stung the hands of Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina with a fierce drive from the edge of the box.

He then went to ground as both players scrambled for the rebound, but referee Peter Walton waved away Reading's penalty appeals.

Oster whipped in a cross from the right which had Reina in trouble - but Reading could not convert their chances and were stung on the break.

Nicky Shorey's free-kick rebounded off the Liverpool wall and Arbeloa ran it clear down the left.

The Spaniard exchanged passed with Peter Crouch before curling a right-footed finish neatly past Marcus Hahnemman and inside the far post.

Kevin Doyle had an immediate chance to snatch an equaliser but rifled his drive over the Liverpool bar.

Reading continued to press, with Oster lively down the right flank, and their build-up play was promising but it never got any further.

There was little urgency about Liverpool but they were quick enough to close down space and force to play around the fringes of the box without ever penetrating it.

Reading may have had most of the ball, but Liverpool remained the more dangerous side as Gerrard led another counter-attack from deep which Hahnemann did well to squander as he picked off Craig Bellamy's cross.

Bellamy then latched onto a long clearance from Reina but Michael Duberry, having misjudged the first ball, recovered before the Welsh international could get his shot away.

The first half ended as a damp squib - but the game restarted with a bang.

It took Reading just 80 seconds to succeed where they had failed for the previous 45 minutes and find the killer ball to break open the Liverpool defence.

Hunt was the architect, curling a clever ball to the right edge of the box and Gunnarsson stole around the outside of Finnan to lash his low drive past Reina and in off the post.

Reading's equaliser opened the game up. Liverpool pushed for an immediate riposte.

Bellamy went down under a stretched challenge from Ingimarsson as he closed in on the Reading goal and was furious when referee Walton waved away his appeals for a penalty.

Another Oster cross sailed to the far post where Hunt uncoiled a volley, which rebounded off Finnan for a corner.

Carragher then diverted a defensive header onto his own post as Reading caused Liverpool their first real difficulties of the game.

Bellamy was replaced by Kuyt soon after his penalty appeal and the Dutchman offered Liverpool a different option up front.

Kuyt latched onto a clever ball from Sissoko and drew Hahnemann but his angled pass was just too far ahead for Gerrard to slot into an open goal.

Ingimarsson stepped in to block Kuyt after he had played a neat one-two with Gerrard to break into the Reading box.

Hahnemann was booked for handling the ball on the edge of his area and Gerrard curled in a dangerous cross to the far post which Hunt did well to clear under pressure.

But there was nothing Reading could do when Pennant, on a substitute, turned inside Harper and chipped a cross to the far post where Kuyt was on hand to head home the winner.

Teams

Reading Hahnemann, Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson,Duberry (Bikey 46), Shorey, Oster (Lita 82), Sidwell, Harper,Hunt, Doyle, Kitson.

Subs Not Used: Federici, Long, Halford.

Booked: Kitson, Hahnemann.

Goals: Gunnarsson 47.

Liverpool Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa, Gerrard,Sissoko, Mascherano, Gonzalez (Riise 79), Crouch (Pennant 65),Bellamy (Kuyt 50).

Subs Not Used: Dudek, Agger.

Booked: Sissoko.

Goals: Arbeloa 15, Kuyt 86.

Att: 24,121

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).