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Reading fear Torres visit
07/12/2007 13:49 - (SA)
Reading - Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko is steeling himself for a testing afternoon when Fernando Torres and his Liverpool teammates come calling at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
Senegal-born Sonko, who has recently returned to Reading's leaky defence after nine months recovering from a knee operation, knows Torres well from his time in Spain, and he rates the on-form forward as one of the best three strikers in the English Premiership.
Sonko was still sidelined when Torres struck a hat-trick against Reading in the League Cup earlier in the season, but that performance nevertheless left a big impression.
"I have watched Torres for the last three years in Spain and he is a quality striker, quick, powerful and with great control," Sonko said. "If he is on top of his game there is no way to stop him."
Torres has scored 11 goals since arriving at Anfield from 17 appearances including three from his last two games.
Sonko added: "I watched him in that Carling Cup game when he scored three so I know what I am up against. He is up there with Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor as the best in the league.
"I love testing myself against the top players. You have to raise your game to a new level.
"In many ways it is easier to play against the top four or five sides because there is no pressure. Everybody expects you to lose and it is magnificent if you win."
Liverpool legend Ian Rush meanwhile has identified the outstanding form of Steven Gerrard as one of the reasons behind Torres's success.
Rush said: "We all knew how talented Torres was before he came here but he was not prolific in Spain.
"To have 11 goals already is impressive and he is clearly relishing the service he gets from Gerrard.
"One of Torres's great assets is that he is so quick over 20 yards that he leaves defenders trailing.
"Bob Paisley used to say the first two yards were in the head and that is the case with Torres. He is such a quick thinker."
Gerrard has scored eight times in his last nine games, but the Liverpool skipper claims he has no interest in battling with Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Chelsea's Frank Lampard to become the Premiership's highest scoring midfielder.
"You don't compare yourself to other people. What I do compare is Liverpool with Arsenal and Chelsea. If Fabregas and Lampard score more goals than me but we finish higher than them I will not be complaining. Goals are important but not as important as points."
Liverpool have been boosted by news that Jamie Carragher has recovered from bruised ribs and will be able to play at Reading, while longer-term injury victims Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio are also all close to comebacks.
Benitez is unlikely to take any risks with their fitness against Reading however as Liverpool prepare for a make-or-break Champions League trip to Marseille next week and the arrival of Manchester United at Anfield on December 16.
Having scored 21 goals in their last five matches Liverpool are in a rich vein of form but Benitez insists they will pay their hosts on Saturday every bit as much respect as Marseille or United.
"I remember when we won 4-2 at Reading in the League Cup this season and people said it was an easy game," Benitez said. "It wasn't. I remember watching the video of the game after the game and they gave us some problems, and it won't be easy. It will be a tough game against a side with a very good team spirit."
Sonko expects to be named in an unchanged Reading team after last weekend's 1-1 home draw with Middlesbrough left them on the fringes of the relegation places.
- AFP
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