Reading 2-4 Liverpool [Carling Cup]

[Podolski]

Torres hat-trick!! 1-on-1 with the keeper and takes it past him then scores!
he looks amazing today

[jec1]

He really is in form. I'm surprised how well he's doing, making the transition to the EPL is not an easy feat.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Good game today. Torres second half was brilliant. Torres, Carragher, Benayoun and Sissoko was our best players today.

[Werdna]

Well done Rafa...saving Torres at Portsmouth and against Birmingham so he can play with the reserves in the Carling Cup! Yay!

[Mighty T.A.L.]

He saved Torres after he has been involved in two matches for Spain.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Torres runs Reading ragged

Fernando Torres hit a superb hat-trick as Liverpool overcame a battling Reading side to win 4-2 in the Carling Cup third round.

Reading twice came from behind to peg the Reds back, but lacked the extra class which the Spaniard provided for Liverpool.

Reading's defenders seemed under orders to frustrate the forward, but he showed enough talent to win the game for his side.

After a steady start at The Madejski Stadium, the Reds went ahead after 23 minutes thanks to Yossi Benayoun.

Individual class

The Israeli netted his first for the club, showing his ability with a fantastic solo effort. He was aware to the second ball before nut-megging Andre Bikey and firing into the top corner to beat Adam Federici.

Reading were level in the 28th minute with another phenomenal effort, this time from Bobby Convey. Mohammed Sissoko had cleared Nicky Shorey's corner well, but the ball fell to Convey, who fired low into the far corner to make it 1-1 at the interval.

Torres restored the lead for Liverpool shortly after half time, when debutant Sebastian Leto did well and played a neat throughball. Torres then showed his pace and power and fired the ball past the helpless Reading keeper.

Reading were again level as Liverpool looked shaky from Shorey's set pieces. After a scramble in the box, John Halls fired home his first of the season with Liverpool keeper Charles Intandje to blame.

It did not take Liverpool long to restore the lead once more. Substitute John Arne Riise produced some great work before pulling the ball back for a superb finish from Torres.

Hat-trick

And the Spaniard completed his hat-trick late on when he broke through and confused the Reading goalkeeper enough to take the ball past him and pass it into the back of the net.

Skysports

[NJ10]

Torres was awesome. Yeah he wasnt up against much in Bikey & Doobs, but my word he stood up to the physical test, and his finishing was sublime. But aside from his goals, he was a constant threat, his touch was exemplary and he linked up really well with the midfield. I have to say as a striking performance, it was as good as I have seen in a Liverpool shirt since Owen's early days, stunning.

Thought Finnan and Carragher were superb as well. Arbeloa looked a little suspect positionally but did ok. Itandje looks very suspect with crosses- the new Pegguy Arphexad. Benayoun did really well as well, he was involved in everything good we did, and worked very hard. Leto was a bit disappointing on the other flank but produced a great pass for Torres' first goal, could have had a couple of assists more but overhit his crosses. Lucas started pretty well but faded fast, he looks nice and tidy on the ball though.

And Gerrard showed a bit of class when he came on, whats been missing since the Chelsea game.

Good result. Hopefully we can go far in this tournament.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

TORRES VOTED FANS STAR MAN V READING

Hat-trick hero Fernando Torres was voted Liverpool's star performer during the 4-2 Carling Cup win at Reading by the Reds fans who took part in an exclusive vote on this website.

The Spanish ace also took the Liverpoolfc.tv accolade.

After each game we ask you to pick the Reds' top three players - and we'll pick ours too.

The winner of each poll then gets three points, the runner-up gets two and the third best player gets one. At the end of the season the points are totted up to reveal our star performer.

Liverpoolfc.tv's top three players v Reading

1. Fernando Torres. Who else! A special display from the Reds number nine and he gave us the perfect striker's performance. The Reading defenders tried to bully him and unsettle him all night but Torres' response was a hat-trick.

2. Yossi Benayoun. The cultured Israeli scored a fantastic goal and was creative all night.

3. Momo Sissoko. The Mali international was a tireless worker in the Liverpool midfield and made some fantastic crunching tackles.

Liverpool fans' top three players v Reading

1. Fernando Torres. 3,036 votes.

2. Yossi Benayoun. 91 votes.

3. Momo Sissoko. 35 votes.

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv: Official Web Site