Reading 2 (Convey 28, Halls 64)
Liverpool 4 (Benayoun 23, Torres 50, 72, 86)
Fernando Torres' hat-trick sent Reading out of the Carling Cup this evening.
The Spaniard was in scintillating form, and scored three goals in the second half.
It was an exciting game, and Reading more than played their part.
Yossi Benayoun opened the scoring after a good run, only for Bobby Convey to smack home a cracking volley from 20 yards.
Torres put Liverpool in front five minutes after the break, only for John Halls to level matters once again.
Sadly though Torres produced another couple of cracking finishes to make it 4-2.
Reading had their moments, most notably when Leroy Lita headed straight at the keeper when the scores were 0-0.
Lita also saw an absolutely incredible overhead kick only just tipped over at 3-2.
Liverpool deserved to progress, but there was certainly no disgrace for the Royals as £26.5million Torres proved the difference.
Reading: Federici; De La Cruz, Shorey, Bikey, Duberry; Fae, Harper (c), Convey (Kitson 78), Halls (Hunt 78); Lita, Long (Henry 78)
Subs: Hahnemann, Cisse
Booked: Bikey, Duberry, Fae
Liverpool: Itandje; Finnan, Aurelio (Riise 69); Arbeloa, Carragher (c); Leiva (Hobbs 89), Sissoko; Benayoun, Leto; Crouch (Gerrard 77), Torres
Subs: Martin, Putterill
Booked: Leiva
Ref: M Atkinson
Attendance:23,563
First half
After an even and enjoyable start, Reading should have gone one up on 20 minutes.
John Halls put in a wonderful cross, and Leroy Lita was unmarked from six yards, but headed straight at keeper Charles Itandje.
Two minutes later, Liverpool took the lead.
Yossi Benayoun picked the ball up 15 yards inside the Reading half, and went on a good run. He skipped inside Andre Bikey, and with Adam Federici going to ground, he lashed into the middle of the goal.
A moment later Fernando Torres shot a foot wide, but the Royals were quickly level.
Nicky Shorey took a right wing corner, and it was headed away at the front post.
It dropped to Bobby Convey on the edge of the box, and, showing great technique, the American volley home from 20 yards for his first goal since March 2006.
Three minutes before the break the American had a chance for another, but got underneath a looping cross to head over.
Second half
As has happened so many times this season, Reading conceded soon after half time. Emerse Fae was dispossessed by Benayoun, and the Israeli slipped in Torres with a lovely pass.
Torres held off Michael Duberry, and slipped home a very nice finish for 2-1.
The Spaniard was very lively, and had a good penalty shout waved away after a nudge by Bikey.
Fabio Aurelio put a free kick just wide, and Liverpool had a head of steam.
But, Reading clawed themselves back on level terms. Itandje made a hash of a corner, and John Halls was on hand to turn home at the second attempt.
The game then took another turn, with sub John Arne Riise making a nice pullback for Torres, who finished with aplomb into the top corner.
Reading were not done though, and Leroy Lita unleashed an absolutely sensational overhead kick, only for Itandje to get a vital tip on it. It was an incredible effort, and Lita was very unlucky indeed.
Rafa Benitez brought Steven Gerrard on with 13 minutes left, and Steve Coppell responded with a triple change, introducing Dave Kitson, Stephen Hunt and debutant 18-year-old James Henry.
Gerrard played a great pass for Benayoun on 83, and the Israeli looked odds on to score, but Federici did well.
Reading were pressing, and Hunt had half a penalty shout, but Coppell's men ended up leaving themselves too exposed.
A neat Gerrard ball put Torres clean through, and the Spaniard was never going to miss, rounding Federici for an impressive hat-trick.
It was a good game, and both teams played their part. Torres was unquestionably the difference, and Reading were always in the game up until the very last stages.
