Reading defender Michael Duberry admits Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was a handful after the Spaniard's hat-trick in this week's Carling Cup win.

"Individual brilliance was the difference," said Duberry.

"The manager wanted us to out-work them and I think we did that for a large percentage of the game, but when they had their chances they took them.

"It was a great battle for me to play against Torres and Peter Crouch. I thought we handled him (Torres) well but he took his half-chances and that's what Liverpool are paying for.

"In three weeks you'll read he scored a hat-trick, not that Duberry and Bikey kept him quiet for 70% of the game. He's done his job and as defenders we didn't do ours.

"He is fast and has an eye for goal. He's up there with the best and the more he copes with the physical side of the game, the better he'll get."