Torres hat trick sinks Reading

Having avoided Liverpool for 135 years Reading have now faced England’s most successful club four times in the last twelve months. By a strange quirk of fate Reading face Liverpool at the same stage of the Carling Cup exactly a year after the two clubs first ever meeting in the Third Round of the competition.

Liverpool with one eye on Europe was expected to put out a reserve side. Reading though would also have other matches on their minds with a difficult trip to Portsmouth at the weekend. Liverpool’s side had a smattering of top clash players with internationals Fernando Torres, Peter Crouch and Jamie Carragher all in the starting eleven. Reading also started with plenty of important players. Nicky Shorey, James Harper and Michael Duberry retained their places from Saturday’s home win over Wigan Athletic.

After a quiet opening the game was suddenly ignited in the 23rd minute as Liverpool took the lead through Yossi Benayoun. A strong, mazy run took the Liverpool midfielder past the Reading defence and into the Reading penalty box. In a second, a curling shot found its way past Adam Federici. Liverpool could have doubled their lead a minute later when Fernando Torres shot narrowly wide of the Reading goal.

Reading did not take umbrage from the situation though. Just two minutes after Liverpool took the lead; Bobby Convey unleashed an absolute screamer from the edge of the Liverpool box. A corner was swung over from the right, Convey making an instant connection with a thunderous strike that gave Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje no chance whatsoever. The goal was a stunner and Convey, whose thirst for first team action has made his hunger most apparent, could have scored a second late on in the first half, but could only direct another volley wide of the goal.

Liverpool came out in the second half with a real appetite. On 50 minutes Fernando Torres ran through the Reading defence hitting a low shot into the bottom right corner that evaded Federici to give Liverpool the lead. Torres caused further problems to Reading when Andre Bikey felled the Spanish forward in the box, but no penalty was forthcoming. Sadly from the Reading perspective further goals from Torres were forthcoming, but only after Reading equalised.

John Halls, for so long a reserve player blasted a shot through a crowd of players and gave Reading a deserved equaliser. With vigour, purpose and a collective fire Reading looked more likely to score, but were thwarted in the 63rd minute when Jamie Carragher headed a dangerous Bonny Convey cross wide of the Liverpool goal. John Halls also had goal ruled out for offside.

John Arne Riise entered the fray in the 70th minute and his impact was immediate. Torres volleying in a Riise cross to give Liverpool a 3-2 lead. Leroy Lita could have pulled Reading level with a tremendous over head kick, but was denied by a tip over from Liverpool goalkeeper Itandje. The next goal sealed the game for Liverpool. Torres sealed his hat trick after being out through by Steven Gerrard, who had beaten the offside trap. Torres’ run in on goal gave him a hat trick and put Reading out of the Carling Cup.

By Stuart Croucher