Liverpool 2 Reading 1:THE FIRST Liverpool striker since Robbie Fowler in 1995-'96 to register 20 league goals in a season could never hope to be inconspicuous. Fernando Torres retains an element of surprise for opponents though it is they who will define the club's season in the coming weeks.
Torres was not the stellar individual on display as Rafael Benitez' side edged out Reading, that mantle belonging to Javier Mascherano despite the Spaniard nailing a vital victory for Liverpool. Yet he reinforced the argument this is a bad time to cross Liverpool's path and, against Manchester United, Everton, Arsenal, Arsenal and Arsenal, the striker represents a new card for his manager to play.
Alex Ferguson will not require instruction on the 23-year-old, having made several attempts to sign him from Atletico Madrid. His defenders, and those of Everton and Arsenal, are a different matter for none has encountered Torres on this form and, by extension, none has encountered this Liverpool this season.
"Against Manchester United we didn't really make the most of him, he didn't play against Everton and he came off injured at half-time against Arsenal. He hasn't really played against them," said Jamie Carragher.
Torres' ninth goal in six games was simple by recent standards as the Spain international ghosted away from Andre Bikey to head home Steven Gerrard's free-kick. The result was imperative for Benitez' side. Defeat at the Madejski Stadium disrupted Liverpool's momentum in December and two lost points here, a distinct possibility when Gerrard raised his arms to save Dave Kitson's shot in stoppage time, would have reduced the margin of error ahead. Like Gerrard and Jose Reina, who claimed Stephen Hunt's header at the second attempt in a pulsating finale, Liverpool continue to prosper.
Ahead through Marek Matejovsky's exquisite shot from an intelligent free-kick by John Oster, Reading were dragged down to reality when Mascherano scored his first goal for his club with a thunderous burst from 20 yards.
Liverpool then dominated, Torres delivering a deserved lead, until the latter stages when the referee, Andre Marriner, added to Reading's frustration at the leniency shown Martin Skrtel by dismissing their penalty appeals. "We were never going to get that. The very subtle pressure that is applied by the big teams can intimidate officials," said Steve Coppell.
Coppell's problems extended to Shane Long, reduced to a distracted wreck by Skrtel's grappling, throwing his shirt away when substituted. "I'm sorry, it was just frustration," he said. "I apologised to the gaffer and he just said 'That's not on Longy, I don't ever want to see that happening again'."
