LIVERPOOL: Fernando Torres believes Liverpool can rescue a disappointing season by winning the FA Cup and ending Anfield’s four-year wait for a trophy.Having fallen away in the race for the Premier League title as well as being eliminated from the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Europa League represent Rafa Benitez’s last chances of ending this campaign with some silverware.
Liverpool will entertain Premier League strugglers Burnley in the fourth round of the Cup if they overcome Reading, from England’s second-tier, in a replay at Anfield today.
Although Liverpool beat Chelsea in the Community Shield in August 2006, the Merseyside club’s last major piece of silverware was in May 2006, when they defeated West Ham to win the FA Cup.
Torres, at Atletico Madrid at the time, remembers watching that final on television in Spain. Despite hitting 62 goals in 104 appearances, he has yet to win anything at Liverpool but the Spain international has not given up hope of ending this season with a medal.
“I remember watching the 2006 FA Cup final when Liverpool played against West Ham, it was a great match,” said Torres.
“Jose Reina, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have told me all about it.
“In this country it is the most important trophy after the title. If we won it then we would play in the Community Shield. Winning gives you the chance to get more honours and that should always be our aim.
“Of course we want to finish in the top four too. If we could do that and win the FA Cup it would be the best season we’ve had for the last three or four years.
“I know we finished second last year, but to win something and finish in the top four would be better than that.”
Benitez has often used the early rounds of the FA Cup to give fringe players a chance to stake a claim, but the Spaniard insists the competition is more important than ever to Liverpool this season.
The Liverpool manager started with Gerrard and Torres in the side at Madejski Stadium on January 2 yet the Premier League club were still held to a 1-1 draw, Gerrard’s goal earning a replay after Simon Church had given the hosts a surprise lead.
Neither side has played since after their scheduled games at the weekend were postponed because of the freezing conditions which have gripped England.
Liverpool’s home game with Tottenham on Sunday was called off 48 hours before it was due to take place, but club officials are confident the Reading tie will go ahead.
“Always in the FA Cup it’s really important to do things right,” said Benitez, who is without injured full-back Glen Johnson and suspended midfielder Javier Mascherano.
“Everyone wants to win and it’s a massive competition, so we have to be ready.”
Reading are just two points above the relegation zone and caretaker manager Brian McDermott insists staying in the Championship is the club’s principal objective.
“We must use the 1-1 draw with Liverpool to move forward and the performance has certainly galvanised us as a group,” said McDermott.
“Although it was a great occasion which saw our players perform to their undoubted potential, points in the league remain our priority.”
Iceland international striker Gunnar Thorvaldsson, who has joined Reading on loan from Danish side Esbjerg, has received international clearance but is ineligible to play at Anfield.
Reading completed the loan signing of Stoke right-back Andy Griffin yesterday but he is also ineligible. — AFP