READING 2 - 4 LIVERPOOL

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TORRES HAT-TRICK INSPIRES REDS TO VICTORY

Fernando Torres struck a superb hat-trick as the Reds edged out Reading in a pulsating Carling Cup tie at the Madejski Stadium.

The Spaniard, who was recalled to the starting line-up after being named on the bench against Birmingham at the weekend, responded in magnificent style with three second-half goals to ensure Liverpool progressed in to round four of the competition.

An open contest began with neither side creating much in the early exchanges until the hosts missed a glorious chance on 20 minutes.

Bobby Convey's cross from the right was met by Leroy Lita who contrived to head straight at debutant Charles Itandje in the Liverpool goal.

It was a miss they were left ruing just three minutes later as Yossi Benayoun struck a magnificent individual goal to give Rafa Benitez's men the advantage.

The Israel international picked up a loose ball and drove at the Reading defence before nutmegging Andre Bikey and flashing a great effort beyond Adam Federici.

It was a lead that lasted all of four minutes as the home side responded courtesy of Bobby Convey.

The American, who was returning to first-team action following a long absence, was on hand to volley past Itandje from the edge of the area after the Reds failed to clear a corner from the right.

Both sides then had chances to take the lead just before half-time but Fernando Torres and Leroy Lita shot narrowly wide.

The second period began with the same fast pace as the first and on 50 minutes the Reds reclaimed their lead when Torres slipped the ball past Federici after he was sent clear by Sebastian Leto.

But once again the home side responded and when Liverpool failed to clear a corner from the left John Halls was on hand to drill the ball into the back of the net after an almighty scramble in the box.

With the scores levels both sides went for the jugular but it was Rafael Benitez's side that got the all-important third goal, with Torres on hand to steer the ball into the top corner after great play by substitute John Arne Riise down the left.

And Torres completed his hat-trick with four minutes remaining when he ran onto Steven Gerrard's pass, rounded the keeper and fired the ball into an empty net.

Teams

Liverpool: Itandje, Aurelio, Carragher, Arbeloa, Finnan, Leto, Sissoko (captain), Leiva, Benayoun, Crouch, Torres. Subs - Riise, Martin, Putterill, Hobbs, Gerrard

Reading: Federeci, De La Cruz, Bikey, Shorey, Duberry, Fae, Halls, Harper, Convey, Long, Lita. Subs - Hahnemann, Henry, Cisse, Hunt, Kitson

Referee: Atkinson, Martin

Conditions: fine

Attendance: 23, 567

MOTD Highlights - Liverpool vs Birmingham

Rafa Benitez rued his side's failiure to convert dominance into goals following a Saturday stalemate with Birmingham.
The Spaniard also explained the omission of Fernando Torres from his starting XI, telling reporters it was a tactical decision.

He said: "You must be frustrated because you know before that you must win this kind of game. You could see we were attacking, attacking, attacking – especially in the first half.

"Clear chances are really difficult when the opponents play so deep. We had a lot of shots but they were off target.

"We tried in the wide areas, we tried to get crosses in – everything. It was really difficult but if you have some chances you must take them."

Benitez added: "We knew they would be deep and narrow and compact, so we needed the strikers to play between the lines.

"Kuyt and Voronin can do this. After, when we needed fresh legs, we brought on Fernando, but you could see how many times he got behind defenders – never. That's because there was no space."

The Liverpool boss also revealed that Jermaine Pennant and Javier Mascherano both picked up knocks, though neither is thought to be serious.

LIVERPOOL 0 - 0 BIRMINGHAM CITY

LIVERPOOL 0 - 0 BIRMINGHAM CITY

Liverpool have been held to a second successive draw in the Barclays Premier League after Birmingham left Anfield with a point following a goalless stalemate. The Reds controlled the match almost from start to finish but were ultimately left frustrated as Steve Bruce continued his impressive record of never losing a league match against Rafael Benitez's men.

The result means the Reds are now four points off the pace at the top of the table following Arsenal's home victory over Derby County.

Liverpool enjoyed enough possession to have created a hatful of chances, but the frustration for Benitez will be found in the statistics which will show Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor was rarely threatened throughout the 90 minutes.

The Reds may have blown Derby County away with some sizzling football in their last Anfield clash, but they found Birmingham a much tougher nut to crack and were ultimately left to rue a missed opportunity to pick up three precious points.

With record signing Fernando Torres left on the bench, Benitez paired Dirk Kuyt and Andriy Voronin in attack with Ryan Babel and Jermaine Pennant employed on the wings to provide the ammunition.

Birmingham, predictably, were happy to defend in numbers and swamp the midfield ? tactics which ultimately reaped reward but didn't help contribute towards a free-flowing game.

The early stages looked promising for the home side with John Arne Riise fizzing a low cross across the face of goal which Voronin almost connected with in the six yard box, while Kuyt attempted to strike an early blow but saw a couple of efforts from distance miss the target.

However, the cohesive football we've been used to seeing from Liverpool this season struggled to show itself as the half wore on, with the Birmingham defence remaining resolute in the face of stern pressure.

It took the Reds an hour before they seriously tested Taylor in the Birmingham goal, when Voronin took advantage of a poor clearance from Johan Djourou and smashed a low drive goalwards which was well turned away to safety.

Torres was introduced to the action after an hour and almost grabbed a spectacular opener with an overhead kick from Pennant's cross which just cleared the bar at the Kop end.

The Spaniard also came close to creating a winner for Steven Gerrard with a clever back-heel into his skipper's path inside the area, but just as Gerrard was set to pull the trigger Liam Ridgewell intervened with a last ditch tackle.

Peter Crouch came on to add fresh legs to the Reds' attack, but in the end the visitors held on relatively comfortably for a hard earned point.

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Breakdown

14:00 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : The visitors get the game underway. Nice to have a 3pm kick off on a Saturday
2 mins : Hands up if you predicted Torres would be on the bench today? The Kopites who made a new El Nino banner are probably quite hacked off
3 mins : Riise fizzes a ball across the six-yard box but there's no one there to tap it home. Good start
4 mins : As expected, the Blue
4 mins : Oops. You'll have to excuse me a few typos - went to Heebie Jeebies for a boogie last night. What I meant was, as expected Birmingham are playing with Cameron Jerome as a lone striker
5 mins : Nice work from Babel but Kuyt's shot is weak
6 mins : Well in Javier...
7 mins : Daniel Agger is in the directors' box sporting the coolest leather jacket since Night Rider was on our screens
9 mins : We've also got Steve McMahon, Paul Jewell and Mark Hughes up here
10 mins : First corner goes to the Reds
10 mins : Babel doesn't get it past the first man
11 mins : Alvaro kicks the ball out 'cos there's a man down - very sporting
12 mins : Riise and Pennant taking advantage of the stoppage to get some water and instructions
13 mins : Substitution: Gary McSheffrey for Borja Oubina: Oubina stretchered off. Hope he's okay.
14 mins : Great switch of play by Babel but Pennant's cross is too long. Still, it's a corner
15 mins : Babel's low corner is curled narrowly over by JAR. Unlucky son
16 mins : Wilson Palacios is wearing the most ridiculous yellow boots. Even JAR wouldn't dare come out in them
17 mins : Anyone see the QE2 dock at Liverpool last night? The fireworks were pretty rubbish...
18 mins : Gerrard screaming for it in the middle but Babel's pass is misplaced
19 mins : Dodgy defending by Ridgewell lets Kuyt through but the Blues captain redeems himself with a fine tackle
20 mins : Good work from Babel...to Kuyt on the edge of the box...deflected out for a corner
21 mins : Riise tries one from distance...no this time, John Arne
22 mins : Anyone been in an LFC TV taxi yet?
25 mins : That ball was too ambitious from Javier
26 mins : I'm contemplating asking Daniel where he got his jacket from?
27 mins : Come on Reds...
27 mins : Gerrard swings one in but Dirk can't direct it goalwards
28 mins : JP and Stevie link up on the edge of the box but Dirk's shot is just wide
29 mins : The guy with the yellow boots has a punt...nowhere near, son
30 mins : Anfield is starting to get frustrated...and so is Rafa from the look of things
31 mins : There's a kid with a rattle in front of the press box. Give it a rest would you, la
32 mins : JP and Ryan have swapped flanks
32 mins : Sami gets his head right in there where it matters. What a legend he is
34 mins : Touch of class from Stevie but JP's cross is deflected into the keeper's arms
35 mins : Some more nice build up from Rafa's men but the deliveries haven't been great today
37 mins : Nice ball to Babel down the right but he backheels it out of play...
37 mins : Nice in-swinger from JP but Maik Taylor is out well
38 mins : Round of applause for Peter and Fernando as they come out for their first warm up
39 mins : Interesting to see the interview with Riise on .tv earlier, saying Crouchie, Dirk, JP and Carra are the characters of the squad
40 mins : JP felled midway inside their half
41 mins : Gerrard lays it to JP...he's going to hit one...tipped over
42 mins : Good corner from JP but it's cleared
42 mins : Arsenal beating Derby 2-0
43 mins : Great interplay from Riise, Voronin and Gerrard by Taylor is out well again
44 mins : The yellow boot fella's just tried one from 40 yards but it's no problem for the best keeper in the world
44 mins : Couple of great tackles from Javier
44 mins : Jerome hits the back of the net...but he's offside
45 mins : Stadium announcer reveals people have been caught smoking in the loos - and that stewards are now being deployed in the bogs to extinguish the problem. Never mind about fags, what about rattles???
45 mins : Great ball in from JAR but no one's there...
14:48 GMT : Half Time Reached
15:05 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Kuyt and Voronin kick the second half off. No changes...
46 mins : Momo, Crouch and Torres immediately out to warm up
47 mins : Reds have the sun in their eyes second half...
48 mins : Oi oi, Celebrity Kop Clubber alert. Chris de Burgh's here...
50 mins : Dirk hits the back of the net after fabulous throughball by the skipper...but the flag's up
51 mins : Just seen De Burgh checking out Agger's leather jacket. There's no way I'm getting one if he is.
51 mins : Strong run from Babel but his shot is wide
52 mins : You can't blame Steve Bruce fo setting his team up like this, but it doesn't make for much of a game
55 mins : Good tackle from JP right in front of his old boss
55 mins : Rafa calls Torres over
57 mins : Reds corner...
58 mins : Carra inside the box...deflected over
58 mins : Pennant swings one in...Gerrard bursting into the box...cleared off the line. Darn
59 mins : Can you here the drums Fernando...
59 mins : Great save from Taylor to deny Voronin from 20 yards
61 mins : Substitution: Fernando Torres for Ryan Babel:
62 mins : Acrobatics from Voronin in the box but the visitors remain resolute
63 mins : Kapo hits one...Reina saves but it's a corner
64 mins : First Booking: Liam Ridgewell:
65 mins : Riise crosses for Dirk but his header is disappointing
66 mins : Top class tackle from Javier to win back possession but then he goes and losses it
67 mins : Today's attendance - 44,215
68 mins : Substitution: Garry O'Connor for Wilson Palacios: Yellow boots is off
68 mins : Bruce and McSheffrey having a row it seems
69 mins : Riise has another crack - this time from 40-odd yards. Wide
71 mins : Disappointing cross from Riise
71 mins : Dubious offside decision against Voronin
71 mins : First Booking: Gary McSheffrey:
73 mins : Big Pete's about to make an entrance
74 mins : Great move involving Stevie and JP but the cross could have been better
74 mins : Substitution: Peter Crouch for Andriy Voronin:
77 mins : Best move of the match from the Reds as Pennant sends in a superb cross and Torres hits an overhead kick narrowly over
79 mins : Arsenal 5-0 Derby
80 mins : Substitution: Rafael Shmitz for Cameron Jerome:
81 mins : A nice touch from Rafa on the sidelines...
83 mins : Mark Hughes has seen enough
83 mins : Crouch about to pull the trigger...surely - good tackle
84 mins : Pennant's hobbling
86 mins : Gerrard hits one into the box...no one there
87 mins : The skipper bursts into the box but he's pulled back for handball
87 mins : Substitution: Steve Finnan for Jermaine Pennant:
88 mins : Was Torres obstructed in the box?
88 mins : Free header for Crouch...over
89 mins : Only one team has played football today but it doesn't look like it's done us much good
90 mins : Three mins added
90 mins : Dirk fighting to the last
90 mins : Javier tries one...well over
90 mins : This is so frustrating
15:53 GMT : Match Over

FC PORTO 1 - 1 LIVERPOOL

FC PORTO 1 - 1 LIVERPOOL
Tuesday 18 September 2007 19:45 , Champions League Group Phase

PENNANT OFF AS KUYT EARNS REDS A POINT

Jermaine Pennant saw red as Liverpool's Champions League Group A campaign began with a hard fought draw in Portugal.

The Reds were forced to play the majority of the second half with ten men after the winger was dismissed for a second bookable offence on 57 minutes.

But Rafael Benitez's men hung on to secure what, in the circumstances, is a solid point.

Liverpool had gone in at the break level after Dirk Kuyt's close range header on 17 minutes cancelled out Lucho Gonzalez's early penalty.

The Reds made a shaky start and were lucky not to fall behind after just two minutes when Steve Finnan's attempted clearance was deflected into the path of Lisandro but his effort was well blocked by the advancing Pepe Reina.

The dangerous Quaresma then took advantage of a weak headed clearance from Sami Hyypia to flash a volley just over the bar.

The warning signs were there for Liverpool but they did not take heed and on eight minutes Sektioui exposed Hyypia for pace before falling under the challenge of Pepe Reina.

Referee Luchos Michel pointed to the spot and as Reina dived to his right Lucho Gonzalez calmly clipped the ball down the middle.

The Reds needed a quick reaction and they got one just after quarter of an hour.

Steve Finnan's free-kick was guided back across goal by Sami Hyypia giving Dirk Kuyt the chance to nod Liverpool level and notch his third goal of the season.

The remainder of the first-half saw both sides play an open style of football but neither came close to adding to the scoreline.

The Reds began the second period with renewed impetus but that all changed on 57 minutes when Jermaine Pennant received the first red card of his Liverpool career.

The winger had been booked for an ill-timed challenge on Quaresma on 25 minutes and was given his marching orders just before the hour mark for a needless foul on Fucile.

But despite playing the best part of half an hour a man short Liverpool stood firm and although Sami Hyypia was forced to clear a Quaresma effort off the line on 60 minutes, the hosts created very few opportunities despite their possession.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Finnan, Babel, Gerrard (captain), Mascherano, Pennant, Torres, Kuyt. Subs - Crouch, Itandje, Aurelio, Leiva, Voronin, Agger, Benayoun

FC Porto: , Fucile, Alves, Paulo, Bosingwa, Quaresma, Meireles, Assuncao, (captain), Lopez, Sektioui. Subs - Stepanov, Bolatti, Kazmierczak, , Farias, Cech, Gonzalez

Referee: Lubos Michel
Conditions: Mild
Attendance: Unknown
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Jamie Carragher


Porto1 - 1 Liverpool Kuyt

Final Whistle Report : REDS HELD AT FRATTON PARK

Liverpool have maintained their unbeaten start to the season following a goalless draw at Fratton Park on Saturday lunchtime. Both sides had glorious chances to clinch the three points, most notably a Kanu penalty saved superbly by Pepe Reina in the first half.

The result means the Reds have not conceded in 388 minutes of football.

Liverpool went into the game with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres on the bench, whilst Peter Crouch got his first league start of the season against his former club.

It took Rafa Benitez's starting XI just four minutes to test old boy David James, who was presented with Pompey's player of the season award for 2006-07 prior to kick-off. His pride almost turned to embarrassment when Yossi Benayoun hit a surprise shot from the left-hand side of the box. Fortunately for the fervent Fratton faithful, their man between the sticks just managed to get down in time.

Seven minutes later Xabi Alonso skied a 30-yard effort following some nice football from Jermaine Pennant, Yossi Benayoun and Andriy Voronin. The latter was impressive from the off.

It was a sublime piece of skill from the Ukrainian that set up Crouch for a half chance on the quarter-hour mark. A minute later Crouch again tested James with a low shot but the Reds were failing to make their early pressure pay.

Inevitably, Pompey started to get into the game. It may have taken them 24 minutes to worry Pepe Reina, but worry him they certainly did. Benjani cut inside from the right, slid his way into the box, then unleashed a fierce drive which was made even trickier to deal with thanks to a deflection from Alvaro Arbeloa. Fortunately, Reina had his wits about him.

He needed to be at his best once more shortly after when Arbeloa was adjudged to have pulled Kanu's shirt in the box. Mike Riley didn't see it but the linesman raised his flag and the Nigerian striker grabbed the ball ready for the spot kick.

Alonso's protests - which earned him a yellow card - delayed its taking, but Reina's save was worth waiting for - for the travelling Kop, at least.
Liverpool came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half. Well you would, wouldn't you, after sharing an orange with Messrs Gerrard, Torres, Hyypia and Babel - all itching to get on. If today's fixture had been a five-a-side between the two benches, it would have been 10-0 to the visitors by now.

Just 35 seconds after the restart, Crouch volleyed narrowly over following a fine cross from Steve Finnan. Within the blink of an eye the big man was in the box again only to be out-muscled by Portsmouth skipper Sol Campbell.

Then it was Voronin's turn to threaten. Liverpool's new number 10 carved a wonderful opportunity for himself on 54 minutes but was denied by the bar.

Not that Pompey were simply accepting their fate. Indeed, they could and perhaps should have gone ahead when John Utaka missed with aplomb from inside the six-yard box.

Enter Fernando Torres, who had half an hour to seal the three points. Within half a minute his tidy footwork earned a free-kick right on the edge of the box. Yossi Benayoun claimed the ball but his curler failed to test James.

Nine minutes later the Spaniard had a glorious chance to open the scoring after being fed through by Gerrard, just on for Jermaine Pennant. Sadly, Torres hit his left-footed shot well over.

He nearly made up for it with five minutes to go with some sterling work down the left but his cross was just a mite too strong for the in-coming Voronin.

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Breakdown

11:46 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Portsmouth get the game underway
4 mins : Benayoun fires in a low drive which James does well to turn away to safety. First shot of the game
6 mins : Voronin fires in a cross from the left which is well defended
8 mins : Liverpool find space in the area but Voronin and Benayouncan't combine effectively and the opening is gone
10 mins : Alonso drives a long range drive well over James' goal
15 mins : Sissoko is challenged from behind as Liverpool win a free kick. Not much has happened so far
17 mins : First chance of the game as Sissoko finds Crouch and the striker forces a good save from James at his near post
20 mins : Kanu wins a flick on inside the area but the ball rolls harmlessly out of play
22 mins : Alonso's free kick from the edge of the area is driven disappointingly into the Pompey wall
24 mins : Benjani is presented with the ball on the right of the area but his shot is deflected behind for a corner
27 mins : Utaka charges down the left and his attempted cross is blocked for another corner
29 mins : First Booking: Papa Bouba Diop: Booked for catching Benayoun in the face during an aerial challenge
31 mins : Kanu misses from the penalty spot as Reina dives to his right to make a smart stop
36 mins : Liverpool win another free kick on the edge of the box and have another chance of a shot at goal
33 mins : First Booking: Xabi Alonso:
38 mins : Agger tries to reach the floated free kick at the far post but is unable to do so
39 mins : Another poor free kick from Alonso as he smashes a free kick into the wall
41 mins : Voronin lucky to escape a yellow card after a rash challenge in the middle of the field on Johnson
42 mins : Davis extends Reina with a drive from the angle of the area which is comfortably stopped
45 mins : One extra minute to be played
12:33 GMT : Half Time Reached
12:49 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Liverpool get the second period underway with Rafa making no changes at the break
47 mins : Almost a great start to the half as Crouch volleys just over from Pennant's cross
51 mins : Sissoko and Hreidarsson square up to each other but the ref takes no action. The game hasn't improved
52 mins : The ball falls kindly to Utaka in the area but he smashes the ball wide with a gaping goal to aim for
54 mins : Liverpool's best chance of the game as Voronin controls the ball on his chest before volleying against the top of the bar
56 mins : Sissoko volleys a shot goalwards but James makes an easy save. Signs that we're stepping up our tempo now
57 mins : Good defending from Muntari but he then disappears over the hoardings after beating Pennant to the ball
62 mins : Substitution: Fernando Torres for Peter Crouch:
64 mins : First Booking: Glen Johnson:
65 mins : Benayoun bends a free kick wide of target from the edge of the area
67 mins : Substitution: Steven Gerrard for Jermaine Pennant:
68 mins : Substitution: Niko Kranjcar for Benjani Mwaruwari:
69 mins : The two subs combine as Gerrard frees Torres in the area but the Spaniard blazes over from an acute angle
74 mins : Another good chance for Pompey as Muntari blasts Kanu's pass wide of the goal
76 mins : First Booking: Momo Sissoko:
77 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Xabi Alonso:
85 mins : Great work from Torres on the left and his cross to the far post almost finds Voronin who is inches away from tapping the ball home
88 mins : Finnan needs treatment after going down in the area. Looks like he'll be fine
90 mins : The Reds have a chance to snatch it at the end but Benayoun wastes possession and the chance is gone
90 mins : First Booking: Sean Davis:
13:38 GMT : Match Over

TORRES VOTED AUGUST'S TOP MAN

TORRES VOTED AUGUST'S TOP MAN
Steve Hunter 07 September 2007

Fernando Torres has been voted Liverpool's star man during August by the fans in an exclusive vote on this website.
We set up a vote to ask you to nominate your star performer for Liverpool during August and there were numerous candidates.

The Spanish ace, who marked his Anfield debut with a stunning goal against Chelsea, took 42 per cent of the votes and was a clear winner. Jermaine Pennant was second with Alvaro Arbeloa taking third place.

Liverpool's star performers in August

1. Fernando Torres. 42 per cent.

2. Jermaine Pennant. 15 per cent.

3. Alvaro Arbeloa. 9 per cent.

4. Steven Gerrard. 6 per cent.

5. Javier Mascherano. 6 per cent.

REDS STICK SIX PAST DERBY

REDS STICK SIX PAST DERBY
Liverpool have gone top of the Premier League after goals from Xabi Alonso (2), Ryan Babel, Fernando Torres (2) and Andriy Voronin gave them an emphatic 6-0 win over Derby County at Anfield on Saturday.

The Reds maintained their unbeaten start to the season and went top ahead of Sunday's games after a devastating performance that saw Alonso and Torres score twice, Babel score his first for the club and Voronin score for the second consecutive Premier League game.

Derby came to Anfield still trying to find their feet back in the top flight after winning just one point from their opening four games. The Reds on the other hand had the summit of the Premier League in their sights after an excellent start to the season that has seen them claim seven out of nine points available.

Rafael Benitez made five changes to the side that secured qualification for the Champions League group stages with victory over Toulouse on Tuesday. That meant a return to the starting eleven for Fernando Torres, the hero on his last Anfield appearance against Chelsea, as well as Xabi Alonso, Jermaine Pennant, Steve Finnan and Ryan Babel.

Derby got us underway and made a positive start when Mears shot over into the Kop, but Liverpool quickly got on the front foot and it took a fine save from Bywater to stop Daniel Agger's 25 yard strike finding the bottom corner.

The Reds came close in the 8th minute when Pennant's cross found the head of Torres and Bywater had to make a flying save, but Billy Davies' side were adopting a positive approach in the early stages and it took a timely interception from Daniel Agger to stop Stephen Pearson's marauding run into the penalty area.

Liverpool were being frustrated and Derby were restricting them to long range shots. Dirk Kuyt and Javier Mascherano both went close with efforts from distance, but it was clear that the Reds needed a kick start and they got it in somewhat bizarre circumstances when Alonso gave them the lead in the 26th minute.

It came after a foul on Arbeloa gave them a free kick midway inside Derby's half and Alonso whipped in a curling free kick that beat everyone, including Bywater, and hit the back of the net. It was just the break that Liverpool needed and they would go in 2-0 up at the break after Ryan Babel's first goal for the club capped a period of dominance on the stroke of half time.

The all important second coming when Arbeloa found Babel on the edge of the penalty area and he dummied two Derby defenders before finishing emphatically high into the net.

Liverpool come out for the second half and went straight at Derby. They should have gone 3-0 up almost straight away when good play between Arbeloa, Torres and Kuyt gave Alonso a chance that he lifted over.

But they did go 3-0 in the 56th minute and it was another fine goal from Fernando Torres. Torres sending Anfield into raptures as he beat his marker before finishing coolly with his left foot from 12 yards.

The Reds were now absolutely dominant and Derby were finding it impossible to live with their immense attacking threat. Liverpool added a fourth through Alonso in the 69th minute before Voronin came off the bench to score the fifth in the 76th minute after Bywater had only been able to parry Kuyt's shot into his path.

The final word belonged to Man of the Match Fernando Torres because he scored his second goal and Red's sixth goal in the 77th minute to cap a brilliant Liverpool performance.


RAFA REFUSING TO GET CARRIED AWAY
Rafael Benitez is refusing to get carried away despite seeing his side go top of the Barclays Premier League after thrashing Derby County 6-0.
The Liverpool manager admitted he was pleased and proud of his side's performance, but noted a sign of caution when he said that it is only early days in the race for the title.

"I am really pleased with my team and we are playing well, scoring goals and keeping clean sheets," enthused Benitez.

"It's good for our supporters to see us top of the league but we now have to keep it going and keep working hard in every game we play. It's too early to talk about being top of the league.

"In the first half Derby were well organised and played very deep but we managed to keep attacking them and got our reward with the goals. We have so many options now in attack and it's good for me as a manager.

"We scored six good goals and it's good to see Torres and Voronin scoring goals. Kuyt worked so hard and was unlucky not to score and I really liked Babel's goal."


Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia (captain), Agger, Finnan, Babel, Alonso, Mascherano, Pennant, Torres, Kuyt. Subs - Riise, Itandje, Voronin, Sissoko, Benayoun

Derby County: Bywater, Fagan, Todd, Davis, Griffin, Pearson, Camara, Oakley (captain), Malcolm, Howard, Mears. Subs - Price, McEveley, Moore, Teale, Earnshaw

Referee: A Wiley
Conditions: Dry
Attendance: Unknown
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Fernando Torres