Torres gets 3 in Liverpool win

Fernando Torres grabbed three second half goals as Liverpool battled past Reading in the Carling Cup. Torres showed the Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez what he may have been missing in their two recent goalless draws and the £24m man continues to prove his worth.

Liverpool made 9 changes from their weekend side with only Arbeloa and Carragher getting the nod again, whilst Reading made 8 changes, with only Nicky Shorey, James Harper and Michael Duberry getting another start after the 2-1 defeat of Wigan.

Liverpool went ahead in the 23rd minute thanks to a magnificent piece of individual skill from Yossi Benayoun. He picked up the ball well, took it past Bikey and thumped it into the top of the net.

Reading were level again in the 27th minute as Sissoko failed to clear his lines, and Bobby Convey volleyed home.

Convey should've doubled his tally just before half time when the ball fell to him on the edge of the six-yard box but this time the Reading winger's volley was superbly saved by Itandje.

Liverpool took the lead after half time when Leto sent the ball through to Torres who stuffed the ball into the corner past Federici.

Reading equalised again in the 65th, as Liverpool failed to clear a corner properly, only for John Halls to hit the ball home to make it 2-2.

Then, Torres really showed his value as he grabbed two goals to wrap up the game.

His first, came in the 70th when the Spaniard converted a low cross from substitute John Arne Riise to restore Liverpool's lead.

Finally, his fourth came four minutes from the end as he bagged his first Liverpool hat-trick.

Rafa Benitez commented after the game, "We knew it could be like that but with the space, Fernando is really dangerous.

"But the rest of the team showed real character as well as Fernando. That is the key for me because you can play with one or two strikers working hard but other players not doing their jobs. But every player did a fantastic job."