Fernando Torres became the first Anfield striker in more than 60 years to net successive hat-tricks on home soil as Liverpool eased past West Ham. The Spaniard followed up his treble against Boro 10 days ago, with three classy strikes against the Hammers.

Liverpool started Wednesday’s fixture strongly and Torres already had one decent chance even before his eighth-minute strike after Dirk Kuyt nodded back a delightful John Arne Riise cross.

This time it was just the wrong side of the woodwork but the Spanish ace made no mistake at the second time of asking, side-footing Kuyt's low ball beyond Robert Green with consummate ease.

Kop hearts were in mouths on 11 minutes when the visitors broke through Luis Boa Morte, the Portuguese rounding Pepe Reina before an outstanding last-ditch interception from Arbeloa.

A short while after, Martin Skrtel did well to thwart Carlton Cole in the box, another sign that, if they weren't killed off, West Ham were capable of pinching something.

Down at the other end a glancing header from the superb Skrtel rolled over the top of the net - three inches lower and it would have been in.

Steven Gerrard then forced a full-length save from Green with a sweet effort off the outside of this right boot - this following nice work from Ryan Babel.

West Ham, without a win at Anfield in 45 years, could perhaps have been down to 10-men after 38 minutes when Cole led with his elbow during a challenge with Xabi Alonso. Benitez flew off his seat in protest but Steve Bennett opted for leniency.

The lead was almost doubled on 54 minutes following some sublime interplay between Gerrard and Babel, the latter twisting and turning onto his right foot before a trademark drive which Green did well to stop. Still, it had the on-looking Kop purring.

Finally, two minutes later, it was 2-0. The Hammers defence failed to deal with an Alonso corner and when the ball fell to Kuyt, the Dutch forward had time to look up and plant it on the head of Torres. The number nine was never going to miss from there, guiding the ball beyond the grasp of Green with ease.

Game over, it seemed. All that was left to be decided was whether El Nino could become the first Liverpool striker since Jack Balmer in 1946 to score hat-tricks in successive home games.

The crowd thought he'd done just that on 67 minutes when he got his head on Steven Gerrard's swerving right-wing cross. The ball hit the post before taking an age to ricochet across goal and eventually the wrong side of the post.

Torres wrapped up his hat-trick on 81 minutes, sliding into the bottom corner after leaving former Reds target Lucas Neill for dead in a single stride. Anfield erupted.

The skipper varnished the scoreline two minutes later with perhaps the goal of the night - a 25-yard curler into the top corner - but tomorrow's headlines will rightly belong to Liverpool's Spanish superstar.

It's now 24 goals for Torres this season, as Liverpool’s victory in their game in hand moves them above their Merseyside rivals on goal difference.

Match Stats: Liverpool 4 – 0 West Ham United

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Babel (Pennant 76), Kuyt (Benayoun 63), Torres (Crouch 82).

Goals: Torres 8, 61, 81, Gerrard 83.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson (Spector 63), McCartney, Solano (Ashton 69), Noble, Mullins, Ljungberg, Boa Morte, Cole (Zamora 69).

Booked: Cole, Neill, Noble.