Liverpool continued to tighten their stranglehold on fourth place with a hard-fought 2-1 Premier League win over Reading at Anfield.

Goals from Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano helped the Reds come from behind after Marek Matejovksi's wonder-strike, the Champions League hopefuls managing to avoid a post-Euro hangover following a big win over Internazionale.

An entertaining first half saw Reading start with intent and they took a shock lead when Matejovksi hammered a quite brilliant drive into the top left corner of Pepe Reina's goal after a free-kick routine following the awarding of a controversial foul by referee Andre Marriner.

Alvaro Arbeloa was incorrectly adjudged to have fouled Stephen Hunt on the Reading left wing, his one-footed slide tackle from the side of the Irishman and cleanly winning the ball.

Reading almost worked another opening immediately afterwards, Matejovkski and Shane Long combining for the young Irish striker to see his shot blocked by Jamie Carragher.

But Liverpool started to exert their authority. Xabi Alonso - returning after missing Liverpool's midweek clash with Inter due to the birth of his first child - went close after Liverpool tried their own short set-play routine, the same man seeing a cross-shot dip off the top of the angle of post and bar, while Marcus Hahnemann was forced into a brave block at the feet of the clean-through Torres - all in the first 10 minutes.

The home side got a deserved 19th-minute equaliser when the lively Ryan Babel fed Mascherano on the edge of the box, who still had a lot to do in beating Hunt before firing a rocket of a shot past Hahnemann.

The match then entered a pattern of Liverpool dominating possession to work openings with Reading sitting back and trying to hit them on the break. Babel was finding his feet too, at one point cutting onto his right foot after beating Liam Rosenior and firing a thunderbolt which Hahnemann tipped away in style.

Dirk Kuyt then went close, shooting inches over after good work by Arbeloa and Babel on the right, while in first half stoppage-time Alonso again just missed the target with a dipping first-time shot after Reading were caught dilly-dallying on the edge of their own area.

Rafael Benitez's men did not leave it long into the second half to get their noses in front, Torres rising unmarked to firmly head a Steven Gerrard free kick into the bottom left. The delivery and finish were both superb, but Reading's defence were more than culpable for allowing the Premier League's in-form striker the freedom of their penalty area from a set play.

The goal allowed Liverpool the breathing space to take control of the match, keeping possession and calmly waiting for openings, Babel again going close with a rising drive after some silky skills by Torres, while a Gerrard effort was almost deflected over Hahnemann, who got back well to claim under his crossbar.

There was a unsavoury incident for Reading when Long threw his shirt to the ground after being taken off for Dave Kitson, who almost had a swift impact when his flick header let in Kevin Doyle, who thought he should have had a penalty after hitting the deck in a heap with Carragher.

The breaks just would not go Reading's way. Andre Bikey was booked after a screaming match with Gerrard after the Liverpool captain took a tumble under minimal contact from the Cameroon centre half, while Jimmy Kebe proved right to be convinced he won a corner off Alonso after a goal kick was awarded.

What was previously an entertaining match degenerated into tit-for-tat indiscipline and scrappy football, but there was a strong penalty appeal for the Royals when Kitson's volley hit Gerrard on the arm, and further late drama when an injury-time free kick was swung in by Nicky Shorey and spilled by Reina, who managed to get onto the rebound with blue and white shirts piling in.

The result means Liverpool stay in fourth, three points ahead of Everton and five behind Chelsea, while Reading stay 14th although five of the bottom six play on Sunday.

Reda Maher / Eurosport