Tuesday 25 September 2007 19:45 League / Carling Cup 3rd Round
"Reading"	2 - 4	"Liverpool"
	(1-1)
GOAL
Convey 28, Halls 64		Benayoun 23, Torres 50, 71, 86
Team: 32. Adam Federeci, 23. Ulises De La Cruz, 22. Andre Bikey, 3. Nicky Shorey, 29. Michael Duberry, 20. Emerse Fae, 14. John Halls, 15. James Harper, 17. Bobby Convey, 8. Leroy Lita, 24. Shane Long. Subs: 1. Marcus Hahnemann, 4. Kalifa Cisse, 24. James Henry, 10. Stephen Hunt, 12. Dave Kitson.		Team: 30. Charles Itandje, 17. Alvaro Arbeloa, 12. Fabio Aurelio, 23. Jamie Carragher (c), 3. Steve Finnan, 11. Yossi Benayoun, 21. Lucas Pezzini Leiva, 33. Sebastian Leto, 22. Mohamed Sissoko, 15. Peter Crouch, 9. Fernando Torres. Subs: 40. David Martin, 6. John Arne Riise, 46. Jack Hobbs, 8. Steven Gerrard, 35. Raymond Putterill.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Halls (Hunt 79), Convey (Kitson 79), Long (Henry 79)		Aurelio (Riise 67), Crouch (Gerrard 77), Leiva (Hobbs 89)
OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)
Booked: Bikey 51, Duberry 58, Fae 67		Booked: Leiva 70
VENUE		MANAGERS
Madejski Stadium (capacity ) Attendance: 23,567		Steve Coppell (Reading) Rafael Benitez (Liverpool)

  Price: J

  Notes:

  - Jack Hobbs makes his LFC debut

  - Charles Itandje makes his LFC debut

  - Yossi Benayoun scores his first goal for LFC

  Captain Steven Gerrard paid Torres the ultimate compliment after his performance: "He reminds me of Ian Rush. I know Rush was a great striker and as captain I don't want to put too much pressure on him in terms of goals. But Rushie got a lot of credit for working hard for the team, tracking back and not giving defenders a minute on the ball. And that's what Fernando does. If we keep on delivering through-balls and good service, he has already shown what a great finisher he is.

  He got murdered (by Andre Bikey and Michael Duberry) all night and kept coming back and coming back. His goals were great, but the best thing about him was his attitude. I knew he was quick, but what surprised me was his work-rate and attitude."

  Official Match Analysis

  TORRES HAT-TRICK INSPIRES REDS TO VICTORY

  Fernando Torres struck a superb hat-trick as the Reds edged out Reading in a pulsating Carling Cup tie at the Madejski Stadium.

  The Spaniard, who was recalled to the starting line-up after being named on the bench against Birmingham at the weekend, responded in magnificent style with three second-half goals to ensure Liverpool progressed in to round four of the competition.

  An open contest began with neither side creating much in the early exchanges until the hosts missed a glorious chance on 20 minutes.

  Bobby Convey's cross from the right was met by Leroy Lita who contrived to head straight at debutant Charles Itandje in the Liverpool goal.

  It was a miss they were left ruing just three minutes later as Yossi Benayoun struck a magnificent individual goal to give Rafa Benitez's men the advantage.

  The Israel international picked up a loose ball and drove at the Reading defence before nutmegging Andre Bikey and flashing a great effort beyond Adam Federici.

  It was a lead that lasted all of four minutes as the home side responded courtesy of Bobby Convey.

  The American, who was returning to first-team action following a long absence, was on hand to volley past Itandje from the edge of the area after the Reds failed to clear a corner from the right.

  Both sides then had chances to take the lead just before half-time but Fernando Torres and Leroy Lita shot narrowly wide.

  The second period began with the same fast pace as the first and on 50 minutes the Reds reclaimed their lead when Torres slipped the ball past Federici after he was sent clear by Sebastian Leto.

  But once again the home side responded and when Liverpool failed to clear a corner from the left John Halls was on hand to drill the ball into the back of the net after an almighty scramble in the box.

  With the scores levels both sides went for the jugular but it was Rafael Benitez's side that got the all-important third goal, with Torres on hand to steer the ball into the top corner after great play by substitute John Arne Riise down the left.

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard makes and appearance late in the game.   (Photo: Empics)

  Fernando Torres celebrates his first goal at the Madejski  (Photo: AdamDavy/Empics)

  And Torres completed his hat-trick with four minutes remaining when he ran onto Steven Gerrard's pass, rounded the keeper and fired the ball into an empty net.

  Teams

  Reading: Federeci, De La Cruz, Bikey, Shorey, Duberry, Fae, Halls, Harper, Convey, Long, Lita. Subs - Hahnemann, Henry, Cisse, Hunt, Kitson.

  Liverpool: Itandje, Aurelio, Carragher, Arbeloa, Finnan, Leto, Sissoko (captain), Leiva, Benayoun, Crouch, Torres. Subs - Riise, Martin, Putterill, Hobbs, Gerrard.

  Referee: Martin Atkinson

  Conditions: fine

  Attendance: 23,567

  Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Fernando Torres

  Breakdown

18:46 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Crouch and Torres get the game underway for Liverpool
2 mins : Nice overhead clearance from Sissoko
2 mins : Torres looks hurt after good challenge from Bikey
3 mins : He's left the pitch limping but looks okay
5 mins : Reading corner...poor delivery from England left-back Shorey
5 mins : Free-kick in a dangerous position after Sissoko challenge - the ref was swayed by the fans there
5 mins : Shorey hits the wall this time
6 mins : This is only the fourth time Liverpool have faced Reading. The first three were last season...can you name the eight teams we've never played? Answer later...
7 mins : Itandje gets first touch in a Liverpool shirt - a punch
9 mins : Torres looks fine
10 mins : Interesting to see how Alvaro does tonight. He played at centre-back during his time in Spain...
10 mins : Bit of confusion in the Reds defence but it's out for a goal kick
11 mins : Liverpool finding it hard to get out of their own half
12 mins : Torres drives the ball across the edge of the box but Benayoun got there too early
14 mins : Aurelio swings in a nice ball after some patient build up...cleared for a corner
14 mins : Carra has a word with Leto before it's taken - the Argentine must be picking up the lingo. Oh, the corner's wasted
17 mins : Nice skill from Crouch to keep possession in the middle...oh that's dirty from Bikey
18 mins : Nice throughball from Leto but Bikey shows great strength to deny Torres
20 mins : Anyone got the answer yet? Okay, the eight are Barnet, Boston United, Cheltenham Town, Colchester United, Hartlepool United, Hereford United, Macclesfield Town and Torquay United
21 mins : Bit sloppy at the minute...
22 mins : Great cross from Halls for Lita...he must score...oh that's bad
23 mins : GOAL! Yossi Benayoun: Sensational run and finish from the Israeli - you have to watch the highlights on LFC TV tomorrow....
25 mins : Very nearly 2-0 after Torres used his class to find space on the edge of the box - his shot is just wide. Liverpool have come to life
29 mins : Nice nutmeg from Torres...he's through...the keeper does well
27 mins : GOAL! Bobby Convey: That's the first goal we've conceded from open play this season - and waht a belter. But there was a touch of offside
36 mins : Bikey should have been booked there
36 mins : Good ball from Lucas to Crouch at the back post...Benayoun's made the run. Oh, good defending from The Royals
37 mins : Halls delivers another ball from the right but it's a good take from Itandje
38 mins : Dubbery commits common assault on our boy Fernando but the ref again gives nothing!!!
39 mins : The ref finally pulls Reading up for fouling our number nine
40 mins : Steve Coppell's side seem to be standing off Liverpool at the moment
40 mins : Carra fouled Long, apparently. You're having a laugh ref
41 mins : Not seen an awful lot of Lucas in possession but when he's had it he's look class
42 mins : Leto lets De La Cruz go...dangerous ball...Convey heads over
43 mins : Torres barged off the ball by three Reading men...free-kick down their left
44 mins : Aurelio hits it towards Crouch but the ball's cleared
45 mins : Itandje does well to stop close-range shot after some disappointing defending. Good save, lad
45 mins : Convey's free down the left...but his ball isn't good
19:32 GMT : Half Time Reached
19:49 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Reading get the second half going
48 mins : Great attacking move including one-two between Leto and Aurelio...but the Brazilian spoons it over
49 mins : Oh gosh, Fernando's class. Great ball to Leto but his cross is disappointing
50 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: My oh my - strength, intelligence and a clinical finish. Fernando you're a legend
51 mins : First Booking: Andre Bikey: Bikey finally booked following 39th foul on Torres
54 mins : Torres is having a blinder this second half. He's got more power than an LFC TV taxi
56 mins : Crouch is through...well clear after lovely ball from Leto...Bikey beats him for pace
57 mins : The big man makes up for it with a good tackle there though
58 mins : Torres was tripped in the box after skinning Bikey but the ref's blind to it. I'm getting fed up of this
59 mins : Mr Atkinson has given Torres no protection against near-constant harrassment from Bikey and Dubbery
60 mins : First Booking: Michael Duberry: Didn't see why
60 mins : Crouch helps out with a couple of defensive headers
61 mins : Rafa's not happy after Shorey scythed Benayoun пїЅ and escaped unpunished
63 mins : The boss is speaking to Riise, Gerrard and Putterill
63 mins : You have to say, Torres has dealt with the punishment dished out to him with tremendous poise
64 mins : GOAL! John Halls: Balls. Halls capitalises on goalmouth scamble
66 mins : Reading corner
66 mins : Great block from Finnan after the ball comes out to Convey
68 mins : First Booking: Emerse Fae: Sissoko felled midway inside the Reading half following tidy play with Lucas
69 mins : Lucas is having a go here from the free-kick...wide
69 mins : Substitution: John Arne Riise for Fabio Aurelio:
70 mins : Uncompromising challenge from Mo Mo Mo
70 mins : First Booking: Lucas Leiva: God knows what the ref's given this for
71 mins : The Royals get the ball in the back of the net but the ref's already blown for offside
72 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: Great run and cross from Riise and Torres just opens himself up ready to blast home. This guy is the best striker we've seen in a red shirt for some years
74 mins : Are we gonna see another 4-3?
74 mins : Finnan makes Shorey look really, really silly
75 mins : Nice...Torresesque overhead kick from Lita. It's over though
77 mins : Substitution: Steven Gerrard for Peter Crouch:
80 mins : Substitution: Stephen Hunt for Shane Long:
80 mins : Substitution: James Henry for Bobby Convey:
80 mins : Substitution: Dave Kitson for John Halls:
81 mins : Torres on a hat-trick. Last Liverpool player to get a hat-trick in the League Cup?
83 mins : Should have been over...Benayoun put through by Gerrard by the keeper does well to deny the Israeli from close-range
84 mins : The hat-trick was Robbie Fowler against Stoke, I think
84 mins : in 2001...?
86 mins : Reading pushing forward...keep a tight ship Reds
86 mins : Hunt dives
86 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSS! Well in lad. Great movement then leaves egg on the keeper's face. Not a bad ball from SG either. Game Over
90 mins : Substitution: Jack Hobbs for Lucas Leiva: Hobbs on for his debut
90 mins : Da da da da da der der deeeer
20:38 GMT : Match Over

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