LiverpooL 2 - 1 Reading

Liverpool were made to fight all the way by a belligerent Reading outfit but it was Fernando Torres again who secured the points and a firm grip on fourth place.

Torres became the first Liverpool player to score 20 league goals in a season since Robbie Fowler in the 1995-96 campaign.

It was his 27th of the term and his ninth in seven matches but that did not really tell the full story of this fierce clash.

Reading gave everything, fought for every ball and subjected Liverpool to a searching aerial examination in a frantic conclusion.

The visitors led after five minutes thanks to a stunning 20-yard strike from Marek Matejovsky and it took an equally stunning Javier Mascherano equalizer to get Liverpool back into the match.

Torres had a quiet game by his standards but he punished Reading with a header soon after the break, about the only time he was left unattended all afternoon.

From then on Reading fought for an equalizer, and somehow Liverpool - after their midweek Champions League heroics in Milan - clung on for their seventh successive victory.

Liverpool made two changes from the side that beat Inter Milan in the San Siro with Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa returning, with Sami Hyypia and Lucas Leiva making way.

Reading, having pulled themselves marginally away from the relegation battle with two successive wins, were unchanged from the side that beat Manchester City last weekend as they went in search of their first victory at Anfield.

Alonso saw an early shot deflected into Marcus Hahnemann's arms while Ryan Babel and Torres both looked confident and dangerous.

But Reading stunned their hosts with an exceptional goal after a free-kick wide on the left for Arbeloa's foul on Stephen Hunt.

John Oster guided the ball across the edge of the penalty area and the unmarked Matejovsky smashed a swerving volley into the top corner off the crossbar with Jose Reina motionless.

Liverpool's response was a fine ball from Gerrard that sent Torres away but Hahnemann rushed from his line to make a fine block on the edge of the box.

It was going to take something special to match Matejovsky's effort and it came from Mascherano, only the second goal of his first-team career with Corinthians, River Plate, West Ham and now Liverpool.

The Argentina international gained possession 40 yards out and surged forward to lash the ball high past Hahnemann into the top right-hand corner.

Liverpool almost scored again when Mascherano's sweeping ball out to Babel set the Dutch youngster moving and he cut in before lashing an angled drive that Hahnemann beat away.

Babel's diving header from Gerrard's cross a minute later was rightly ruled out for offside before Dirk Kuyt hooked over Arbeloa's cross on the turn.

But Reading were competitive and aggressive and the pace of Kevin Doyle and the spiky involvement of Hunt always had the Berkshire side in the game.

Alonso, from 30 yards, almost put Liverpool ahead a minute from the break but the hosts struck soon after half-time.

Torres was brought down out on the left after 48 minutes and when Gerrard lifted the free-kick into the box the Spain striker rose unchallenged to head down and wide of Hahnemann.

Kuyt headed just over from Fabio Aurelio's cross before Hunt, not surprisingly, got himself booked for yet another foul on Arbeloa.

Torres' crossfield ball sent Babel away on the left and the winger side-stepped three defenders before blasting his shot over the top.

Reading then took off Long, sending on Dave Kitson after 63 minutes. The Irish striker was far from impressed, hurling his shirt onto the track before being reprimanded by a clearly angry Reading boss Steve Coppell for his action.

Hahnemann then saved well to beat out an Aurelio drive with Torres heading the rebound just wide.

Andre Bikey was next into the book for a foul on Gerrard and the Cameroon international became involved in a heated exchange with the Liverpool captain and referee Andre Marriner before the yellow card was shown.

Cisse was booked for a foul on Torres after 87 minutes before Alonso fired over from a Riise pass.

Reading threw everything forward and there was loud appeals for a penalty when Gerrard charged down a Kitson shot in injury-time but Liverpool held on.



Teams


Liverpool Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Alonso,Mascherano, Kuyt (Benayoun 80), Gerrard (Hyypia 90),Babel (Riise 83), Torres.


Subs Not Used: Itandje, Crouch.


Goals: Mascherano 19, Torres 48.


Reading Hahnemann, Rosenior, Bikey, Ingimarsson, Shorey,Oster (Kebe 72), Harper, Matejovsky (Cisse 74), Hunt, Doyle,Long (Kitson 63).


Subs Not Used: Federici, Sonko.


Booked: Hunt, Ingimarsson, Matejovsky, Bikey, Cisse.


Goals: Matejovsky 5.


Att: 43,524


Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Fernando Torres Takes 20-goal Salute

The Kop calls him “Monster” as in “Monster Masch”. Javier Mascherano is a beast of a talent and one reason Liverpool are looking frightening again.

Rafael Benitez’s side have rediscovered form too late to challenge for the Premier League but they are timing their renaissance perfectly for their European ambitions.

Mascherano, massive in the San Siro on Tuesday, loomed once more yesterday in a victory that was never quite comfortable because of Liverpool’s inability to score a third goal. The two they did get were, however, remarkable. With his second-half winner, Fernando Torres became his club’s first player since Robbie Fowler in 1995-96 to score 20 goals in a league season.

With his first-half equaliser, Mascherano was equally historic. Even Jamie Carragher had a better strike-rate than the Argentine until he rattled one in from 20 yards for his maiden goal for Liverpool. It was only the second at club level in his entire career.

His compatriot, Javier Zanetti, reacted irritably to suggestions Internazionale were eliminated from the Champions League by a side with just two world-class footballers, Torres and Steven Gerrard. What about Mascherano? Zanetti said. Jose Reina and — as a penalty box defender — Jamie Carragher could be added to the list and Xabi Alonso has his world-class days. Alonso was restored to the starting XI after falling out with Benitez and played better than for months.

Steve Coppell was rewarded for selecting Marek Matejovsky, despite trouble created by an interview in which the Czech said his manager “does nothing during training”.

Forgiveness played its part in a game not easy to forget. Matejovsky set it up nicely with his gorgeous opening goal, spurring Liverpool to respond with fluent, thrilling football, driven by their five-star midfield. The second period could not compete for intrigue once Torres gave Liverpool the lead and yet there was almost a twist when, in stoppage time, Gerrard threw himself in front of a shot from Reading substitute Dave Kitson and the ball struck his arm. Andre Marriner ignored calls for a penalty: Gerrard had not intentionally handled but by using his whole body as a barrier, was it entirely accidental the ball struck his arm? “They’ve either all got to be given or none given,” said Coppell, rightly pointing out the lack of consistency in how referees view such situations.

Few pass as sensibly and subtly as Alonso and the Spaniard was integral to Liverpool’s quick and varied movement. Reading would have buckled just a few weeks ago but consecutive wins had given Coppell’s players assurance and they kept their shape and kept a foothold in the game. Matejovsky’s fifth-minute goal was eye-popping. Coppell said he had been working on making his team less predictable at set-pieces and Liverpool had expected John Oster to cross into the box rather than float a free kick towards the far corner of the area.

Nobody could have known how well Matejovsky would catch his volley, a missile that careered off the woodwork and landed in a startled Reina’s net.

Liverpool recovered quickly. Alonso skimmed the bar, Gerrard volleyed close and Torres had gone through on Marcus Hahnemann, forcing a save. Then a lovely sequence of passing brought Mascherano into play and, dropping a shoulder, he burst past Stephen Hunt and thrashed a shot beyond Hahnemann before roaring his celebrations to the Kop. Mascherano gave a true allrounder’s performance involving long and short passing, pneumatic-drill tackling and his new-found goal threat.

Yet Reading could not be discounted and used the ball well on the few occasions they were allowed to enjoy it. Shane Long spurned a chance to play Oster through and threw his shirt at the dugout when substituted. Coppell excused his petulance, saying Long was angry at the refereeing, but said: “I’ve told him I never want to see that again.”

After competing so manfully, it was odd for them to gift Liverpool the winner. Liam Rosenior fouled Torres and Gerrard found his striker with a floated free kick. Andre Bikey and Ivor Ingimarsson did nothing to prevent the world’s deadliest striker on current form from jumping cleanly and getting in a header. Torres powered the ball past Hahnemann unerringly for his 27th strike of the season and 20th in 20 Anfield appearances.

George Gillett "Enjoying" Being Involved At Liverpool

George Gillett today claimed the weakness of the US dollar in international currency markets is making it difficult for him to invest in Liverpool.

Liverpool's co-owner told journalists at the IMG World Congress of Sports that the slump in the dollar has left him frustrated.

He said: "We've invested internationally with Liverpool and with Montreal in Canada, and it's had a very positive effect on both of them from the standpoint of strengthening the value.

"On the other hand, it's made it more difficult in terms of investing in those businesses because the dollar is really tremendously weak compared to where we started. It just costs us more to send money to those franchises, those businesses."

Gillett – who also owns the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team and the Evernham Motorsports NASCAR team, also insisted that despite the ongoing controversy of his co-ownership of the club with Tom Hicks, he is still enjoying being associated with one of the biggest names in world sport.

"I'm really enjoying all three teams, but for different reasons. In Liverpool, it's a long distance away and there's been a fair amount of controversy over there.

"In spite of that, the boys are playing very well and I'm proud of them."

Fernando Torres: My Delight At Getting A Liverpool Song

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres admits he is thoroughly enjoying the praise from the club’s supporters in what has been a prolific first season at Anfield.

The Spain international left home-town club Atletico Madrid for Liverpool in a £20million-plus deal last summer, and he has quickly won a place in the hearts of the Reds fans with a phenomenal return of 26 goals in 35 appearances so far.

“I feel very wanted, every game I notice it more, like when the fans chant your name against Inter in the Champions League,” the 23-year-old told Spanish radio station Punto Radio.

Torres was also a hero at Atletico, where he came through the youth ranks and was named as club captain at the age of only 19

However, despite scoring 82 goals in 214 league games for the Rojiblancos he could not bring the club any silverware, and made the decision to leave for England at the end of last season.

Torres added: “They are feelings that I had at Atleti, but to experience them away from your home is even more special and different because I have not had close bonds with the club since I was little.”

Torres Delight At Support

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres admits he is loving life at Anfield.

The Spanish striker has became an instant Kop favourite with 26 goals in his 35 appearances so far this season.

The Spain international left home-town club Atletico Madrid for Liverpool in a £20million-plus deal last summer.


"I feel very wanted, every game I notice it more, like when the fans chant your name against Inter in the Champions League," the 23-year-old told Spanish radio station Punto Radio.

Torres was also a hero at Atletico, where he came through the youth ranks and was named as club captain at the age of only 19

However, despite scoring 82 goals in 214 league games for the Rojiblancos he could not bring the club any silverware, and made the decision to leave for England at the end of last season.

Torres added: "They are feelings that I had at Atleti, but to experience them away from your home is even more special and different because I have not had close bonds with the club since I was little."