| Reading ensured Liverpool endured a frustrating start to 2010 as the Royals held the Reds to a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup third round tie at the Madejski Stadium.
Simon Church opened the scoring for the Championship club in the 24th minute when the striker bundled the ball over the line from close-range after Grzegorz Rasiak had nodded a free-kick back across goal.
Liverpool levelled 10 minutes later through Steven Gerrard after the midfielder's cross-turned-shot deceived Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici.
However, neither side could find a winner and the two teams must now contest an Anfield replay to determine who will claim a place in the fourth round of the tournament.
In the build up to the game, Benitez had promised to name a strong line-up for the clash - and the Reds boss was true to his word as the likes of Gerrard and Fernando Torres were included in the starting XI, reflecting the manager's determination to taste success in the competition once again.
There was also a start for youngster Stephen Darby, who took up a position at right-back in the absence of the injured Glen Johnson.
While the Reds had been bolstered by victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa over the festive period, the Royals came into the game on the back of a 4-1 defeat at fellow Championship strugglers Plymouth.
However, cup fever had visibly taken a strong grip on Berkshire as the boisterous home fans eyed a third round upset in the first ever meeting between the two teams in the competition.
Nevertheless, the hosts could have been undone as early as the sixth minute when Fabio Aurelio's drilled cross was inches away from reaching Dirk Kuyt in the middle of goal.
Liverpool controlled possession in the opening exchanges, though Reading carved out their first half chance in the 11th minute when the lively Jobi McAnuff's deep cross picked out Gylfi Sigurdsson, who skewed a half-volley harmlessly into the hands of Pepe Reina from the edge of the box.
The home team had the ball in the back of the net soon after, though their joy was short lived. McAnuff looped a header into an unguarded net from Reina's punched clearance, but Rasiak had impeded the movement of the Spaniard and a foul was awarded in the visitors' favour.
At the other end, intricate build up play involving Torres, Gerrard and Kuyt resulted in the Dutchman finding the unmarked David Ngog inside the box and the striker dragged an effort wide of the far post.
But after a tentative opening, Reading had grown into the game and tested the Reds' rearguard with several dangerous crosses into the box in what was proving to be a typical English cup tie.
It was from a 24th minute centre that the Royals opened the scoring when a deep right-wing free-kick from Ryan Bertrand was nodded back across goal by Rasiak, allowing Church to nudge home from yards out.
Reading were firmly on the front foot, but Torres wasn't far from drawing Liverpool level eight minutes later as Ngog released Kuyt into space down the right, with his cross powerfully headed just wide by El Nino.
It proved to be a sign of things to come as the Reds equalised nine minutes before the break via Gerrard.
Emiliano Insua's determination to reclaim possession on the left-wing allowed the Argentine to prod into the skipper's path 20 yards from goal.
Gerrard in turn attempted to pick out Kuyt's well timed dart into the area, but the ball bounced away from the legs of the forward, deceiving Royals' stopper Adam Federici as it found its way into the back of the net.
The Liverpool captain was a growing influence on matters and it was his through ball that sent Torres into space inside the box, though his attempted clip over Federici was palmed to safety by the goalkeeper.
Benitez's charges were presented with another good opportunity soon after as Aurelio struck wide of the far post when well positioned after being teed up by Kuyt before the Brazilian saw a shot blocked from 12 yards with half-time looming.
The Reds began the second period in the ascendancy and Torres flashed an early snap-shot over, though the home support optimistically appealed for a spot-kick when McAnuff went down under Jamie Carragher's challenge prior to Reading top-scorer Sigurdsson stinging the palms of Reina with a blast from range.
The spirits of the Royals had been lifted once more, but clear-cut chances were at a premium for both sides - Church threatened with a dangerous ball across the face of Reina's goal while Kuyt's shot was blocked by the legs of a defender.
However, Reading were forced to replace 'keeper Federici with just over 20 minutes remaining after the custodian picked up an injury. He was replaced by Ben Hamer, while Benitez opted to introduce Alberto Aquilani into the action for Ngog.
With time ticking away, Matt Mills survived a scare when the defender almost diverted Torres' wicked cross into his own net, with Gerrard lurking, before Torres could not shift through the gears quickly enough to allow himself latch onto Darby's clearance when bearing down on goal.
Reading continued to test Liverpool aerially in the dying moments, but Torres spurned a golden opportunity deep into stoppage-time when he headed Gerrard's cross over from close-range meaning an Anfield replay is required to separate the sides.
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