Carling Cup: Post match reaction

Last updated : 27 September 2007 By Angus Muller

Torres, omitted from the starting line-up for the Reds' last two Barclays Premier League games against Portsmouth and Birmingham, hit goals in the 49th, 70th and 86 minutes to earn the side a place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

But despite his hat-trick heroics, Torres could still find himself on the bench at the JJB Stadium because Benitez may decide he won't get enough 'space' against Wigan to justify his inclusion in the side.

When asked why he was left out of their last two league games, Benitez replied: "This was a very different game to last Saturday, it is about space.

"Will he start the next game? We will see. I cannot guarantee anything because I like to see my strikers during the week. We have four strikers and if I say now that he will play, it will be easy for Wigan.

"I am only thinking about my team. Our supporters are very clever, they know that I am trying to do the best for the team.

"Fernando knows why he was left out. It was because of space. I didn't need to explain it too much. All the players want to play in every game.

"If you say to me that Dirk Kuyt is a worse striker or Peter Crouch is a worse striker or Andriy Voronin is a worse striker then I would play Torres every game.

"But because we have very good strikers, I like to choose the strikers for every game and if it is necessary to change I will change.

"I am thinking about the best for my team. I think it was a terrific game for Fernando. But the team worked really hard and it was a very difficult 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."

Reading boss Steve Coppell saw his side twice get back on level terms only for Torres to undo all their good work.

"I thought we had some good opportunities but the difference was obviously £20million," said Coppell. "We are disappointed. You want to play against the best players and that's where you make your reputation by stopping these people playing.

"For us to come off and he's scored three, then we are disappointed. With each goal he grew in confidence and became more expressive. For the first 45 minutes he was fairly anonymous.

"He didn't contribute much in the first half but that is the quality of £20-odd million.

"He gives them what they don't have with other players and that is just raw pace.

"A couple of times it wasn't a question of intricate play, it was just a question of kick it and run and he can run quicker than most.

"Realistically he is yet to set the world on fire in this division but as he got his goals he grew in stature. We had to take more gambles and that only opened up more avenues for him."

Liverpool took the lead in the 22nd minute when Yossi Benayoun scored his first goal for Liverpool with a spectacular angled drive.

But Reading levelled five minutes later through Bobby Convey. Torres restored Liverpool's lead four minutes after the re-start but John Halls got Reading back on level terms again shortly afterwards.

But Torres had the last word and completed a well deserved hat-trick.

PA Sport