Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt is convinced a four-day stay in Spain was the perfect way to prepare for Saturday's trip to Liverpool.The Royals jetted off to Malaga on Sunday for a training camp and while Hunt insisted it was no holiday, they certainly managed to avoid the worst weather of the winter so far as gales battered England in their absence.
He said: "It was pretty much the same routine as usual so it wasn't a holiday in any way. The training was very hard - and it has to be like that with a game like Liverpool away coming up.
"Obviously the weather was a bonus but it was warm, not hot, so it didn't restrict what we could do. It was nice to be able to train in that environment for a change.
"In terms of getting away together that was a good thing as well. We all get on pretty well together anyway, so that was never going to be a problem. But it is always good to have a bit of fun with your team-mates and a bit of a craic.
"We relaxed together and spent time chatting and having a laugh. At this time of the year the place was fairly quiet and there weren't any of the places open that would be in the summer season. So it was quite a relaxed feeling. We were isolated away from anything else but that was a good thing.
"The most important thing was that we picked up no injuries in the week and that everyone is fit for the weekend. So now everyone that went has had a good week of training and is ready for Liverpool."
Steve Coppell's squad also spent time analysing the opposition by watching television coverage of Liverpool's San Siro success over Inter Milan in the Champions League.
He said: "We all watched the game and it was a great result for them. We know it will be tough for us to go there but Anfield is a great place to play your football. The atmosphere there is always electric. I thoroughly enjoyed playing there last season and I can't wait to get up there."
Indeed, the Royals will not only take a two-game unbeaten run to Merseyside, they will also be seeking to complete a home-and-away double over Rafa Benitez's side, having beaten them 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium in December.
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