Torres treble as Reds crush Hammers

His first came after just eight minutes, volleyed home on the turn, with the second following after an hour with a close-range header.

The Spaniard's third goal arrived 10 minutes from time before Steven Gerrard drove home the fourth two minutes later.

Liverpool attacked from the start and were always the more decisive team and Torres put them ahead after eight minutes when he fiercely volleyed Dirk Kuyt's low cross from the right past Robert Green from 12 yards.

The Hammers continued to live dangerously after the break and only a fine save from Green stopped Ryan Babel after Gerrard had cleverly played the Dutchman into the box.

The hosts got their second goal on the hour when Kuyt's chipped cross from the left enabled Torres to neatly lift a header into the top corner from six yards.

Torres saw a diving header hit a post, with Green scrambling to pick up the ball as it rolled across the six-yard box.

Torres completed his hat-trick after 80 minutes when he took a knockdown from John Arne Riise to sidestep his way into the six-yard box before rolling the ball past Green.

The Spaniard's goal tally now reads 24 in 33 matches - 12 of them coming from his last 11 games.

Gerrard capped the win two minutes later, blasting home the fourth goal with a blistering drive from outside the box, as Liverpool eased back above Everton in the table.