The Reds came from behind to beat Reading 2-1 at Anfield yesterday to make it five Premiership wins in a row and seven in all competitions.
Liverpool found themselves 1-0 down after only four minutes yesterday when the referee wrongly awarded a free kick against Alvaro Arbeloa. The free kick was played to Marek Matejovsky on the edge of the 18 yard box and his thunderous strike gave Pepe Reina no chance.
The Reds responded instantly and could have found themselves level a minute later; Steven Gerrard's excellent through ball sent Fernando Torres through but Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann was quickly off his line to smother Torres' attempted chip.
The equaliser did arrive after 20 minutes and you couldn't have found a more popular scorer. Javier Mascherano received the ball 20 yards out, went past Reading scruff Stephen Hunt like he wasn't there and blasted home his first goal for the club.
Reading were closely marking Torres but this was leaving room for Ryan Babel and the Dutchman was certainly having chances. Soon after the equaliser he skinned two defenders and hammered in a shot that Hahnemann managed to palm over the bar.
Babel thought he'd put the Reds in front moments later when he connected with Gerrard's cross but his diving header was disallowed for offside.
Arbeloa then sent in a cross that found Dirk Kuyt in space in the box but his quick volley went over the bar.
Liverpool took the lead three minutes into the second half. Torres had been fouled out on the left and the ensuing free kick was sent into the box by Gerrard where Torres had found himself a bit of room to head home his 27th of the season, also becoming the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler over a decade ago to score 20 league goals in a season.
Reading were rocking and the Reds began to carve out numerous chances. Torres played in Babel, who beat the defender before hitting his shot over the bar. Fabio Aurelio then tried his luck from 30 yards but his shot was saved and Torres was unable to get the rebound on target.
The failure to get a third goal to kill the game meant the Reds had a nervy last ten minutes when Reading threw everything forward but another assured display from Martin Skrtel meant an equaliser was never forthcoming.
Xabi Alonso could have wrapped things up in the last minute of injury time. Hahnemann had come into the Reds' penalty area for a Reading free kick and when Liverpool cleared it the ball came to Alonso deep in his own half. He tried his luck but his shot went just the wrong side of the post.
