Reading 2-4 Liverpool

Fernando Torres showed Liverpool what they have been missing by guiding Rafael Benitez's side into the last 16 of the Carling Cup with a hat-trick in his side's 4-2 win at Reading.

Torres, rested as Liverpool dropped Premier League points against Portsmouth and Birmingham City, scored his first treble for the Reds as they maintained their unbeaten start to the season after a pulsating third round clash at the Madejski Stadium.

Benitez and Reading counterpart Steve Coppell both named much-changed teams from their regular Premier League line-ups.

Benitez restored Torres to Liverpool's attack as the Spaniard was paired up front with England striker Peter Crouch for the first time.

Coppell named only three of the side that beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 on Saturday in his starting line-up.

Recalled Leroy Lita should have put Reading in front in the 21st minute when he headed straight at debutant goalkeeper Charles Itandje from Bobby Convey's cross.

Yossi Benayoun showed Lita the way to goal with a fine solo effort to open the scoring just a minute later. Benayoun picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and jinked his way past the challenge of Cameroon defender Andre Bikey before picking out the top right corner from the edge of the penalty area.

Liverpool's lead lasted until only the 28th minute when American international Convey levelled with a spectacular volley. Shane Long's corner was half headed away by Mohammed Sissoko but Convey drilled the ball beyond Itandje and into the bottom left corner from 16 yards out.

Torres restored Liverpool's lead within five minutes of the re-start with another sublime finish.

Torres collected the ball on the edge of the box and the former Atletico Madrid marksman showed great strength to hold off Reading defender Michael Duberry before side-footing past stand-in goalkeeper Adam Federici from just inside the area.

Bikey was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card two  minutes later when he hauled down the troublesome Torres 25 yards  from goal.

Bikey came to Reading's rescue in the 56th minute with a last ditch tackle to deny Crouch after the striker had got in behind the Reading defence to latch onto Torres's centre.

Liverpool had a stone wall penalty turned down two minutes later when Bikey tugged down Torres but referee Martin Atkinson waved away the visitors' appeals.

Defender John Halls had Reading back on level terms for a second time in the 64th minute, capitalising on a mistake by Itandje to score his first goal for the club.

Itandje was guilty of a poor punch from Nicky Shorey's corner, sparking a goalmouth scramble from which Halls bundled the ball home  at close range.

Torres put Liverpool in front for a second time with 19 minutes remaining.

Substitute John Arne Riise broke down the left before pulling the ball back for Torres who lifted the ball over Federici and into the top left corner.

Torres completed the win four minutes from time when he found himself one-on-one with Federici and promptly rounded the Australian to shoot into an empty net.