Carragher backs Torres to rip Liverpool's rivals apart

An Old Trafford showdown with title pacesetters Manchester United and a momentous derby against fourth-place rivals Everton provide the build-up to a three-part epic against Arsenal next month.

Liverpool travel to the Emirates in the Barclays Premier League, in between going head-to-head in the Champions League.

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That will decide who goes into a possible semi-final against Chelsea — and that, in turn, could be followed by a Moscow date with arch-enemies United in May.

The hurdles just keep getting higher but there was an unmistakeable spring in Carragher's step as he headed out of Anfield and reflected on the way Fernando Torres saw off Reading's resilience and became the first Liverpool player to score 20 League goals since Robbie Fowler 11 years ago.

The £21million record buy can scarcely be described as a secret weapon, yet Liverpool's biggest rivals have had little first-hand experience of trying to contain the Anfield club's best signing in recent memory.

An absentee against Chelsea and Everton, he hobbled off before half-time in the 1-1 Anfield draw with Arsenal.

Though he played in the 1-0 home defeat by United, Carragher insists it was not the real Torres that day and he senses a few acclaimed defences may be left wondering what hit them in the weeks ahead.

Carragher said: "We didn't make the most of him against United and he hasn't really played against the others.

"I'm sure they all watch Match of the Day and see the damage he causes every week. They'll be well aware of him but, of course, it's different when you're actually out there in the middle.

"He'll be up against top defenders but just as they'll relish showing what they can do, so will he.

"He's on fire at the moment and has to be the stand-out striker in Europe. He seems to have the lot. His goal today probably wasn't the sort you'd expect from a pacy striker but I was right behind him and it was some header.

"It has been a long time since Robbie got 20 in the League and for Fernando to be the first to do it since then shows how special he is.

"If you're going to win trophies you have to win the big games against big teams and that's what we face now. United, Everton and three against Arsenal is an absolutely massive sequence and the sort of challenge you play the game for. If we win most of them it can still be a fantastic season. If not, it will be doom and gloom again.

"That's what we're up against but I'm relishing it."

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez may have ditched his contentious rotating of Torres but he still faced searching questions about his selection policy.

What happens, for instance, if Torres picks up an injury — as he almost did against Reading after twice needing a few moments to recover from bruising challenges — and a gap has to be filled by Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch or Andriy Voronin?

Crouch and Voronin have been isolated figures on the fringes, while Kuyt continues to graft tirelessly on the right without looking the finisher he was supposed to be when he signed from Feyenoord.

Benitez significantly crossed his fingers at the mere mention of Torres's fitness but did his best to talk up the others, saying: "I think we have enough quality and if Kuyt plays as a striker he can get goals. It's the same with Ryan Babel."

Czech Republic midfielder Marek Matejovsky stunned Anfield with a fifth-minute rocket into the top corner that was answered almost as spectacularly by a 25-yard Javier Mascherano special 14 minutes later.

Inevitably, Torres had the final say with a header from Steven Gerrard's 48th-minute free-kick, though Reading were adamant they should have had an injury time penalty for hand ball.

It rounded off assistant manager Kevin Dillon's mounting exasperation with referee Andre Marriner as he said: "He absolutely crumbled in front of our eyes and the linesman was pathetic as well. I heard a slap as the ball hit Gerrard's hand and it was a definite penalty.

"We had one of the best refs in Europe, Alan Wiley, on the bench and I think he was a bit flabbergasted by some of Marriner's decisions."

Reading boss Steve Coppell, who may fine Shane Long for ripping off his shirt after being substituted, smiled wryly at his side's unsuccessful appeal and said: "It was at the Kop end in the last minute. Not going to happen, is it?"