Fernando Torres returned to league action playing 71 minutes as Liverpool beat West Ham 3-0. The striker brilliantly set-up Steve Gerrard to score the opener, before winning a penalty from which the club captain scored his second, smashing home the rebound after Green saved Gerrard’s spot-kick. Babel rounded-off the scoring for the Merseysiders with a tap-in.

Liverpool’s top two goalscorers starting together for just the 12th time in the Premier League this season, and their wonderful understanding did not take long to produce the Red’s first goal of the afternoon.

The Merseysiders took the lead with just two minutes gone on the clock. The Anfield number ‘9’ slipped in an inch-perfect pass for Steven Gerrard, who after beating the Hammer’s off-side trap, calmly rounded Rob Green before rolling the ball into the empty net.

A shell-shocked West Ham were lucky not to be 2-0 down moments later as Fernando Torres almost burst clear after latching onto a Dirk Kuyt pass.

West Ham’s best effort of the opening 45 minute period was a header over the bar from Kovac. The unmarked midfielder got on the end of a Mark Noble free-kick but fortunately for the visitors, Kovac failed to direct his header goalwards.

Fernando Torres was proving a thorn in the side of the West Ham back four and his endeavour and hard work finally paid off, wining his team a penalty on 37 minutes. The striker was hauled down in the Hammer’s box as he looked to run onto a pass from Benayoun.

The resulting penalty was well saved by Robert Green in the West Ham goal, but the skipper was on-hand to blast rebound home.

Although the Londoner’s best effort had fallen to Kovac, West Ham’s best chance of the first-half fell to David di Michele. The striker was clean through on goal but he lost his footing as he tried to take the ball around Reina.

The second-half saw little change. Kuyt, Gerrard and Torres were linking-up well, with the latter heading over following the Dutchman’s cross, before Kuyt and Gerrard both had shots saved by Robert Green.

With just under 20 minutes remaining Rafa Benitez brought on Babel for Fernando Torres. Although the Spaniard failed to hit goal number 50 since signing for Liverpool, his contribution proved vital, once again.

The visitor’s had a couple of chances on the break to make it three, and with just over five minutes left of normal time, Babel tapped home after seeing his initial effort blocked by Robert Green.


- Match Stats: West Ham 0-3 Liverpool

West Ham: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Boa Morte (Payne, 79), Noble, Kovac, Stanislas (Collison, 58), Di Michele (Sears, 69), Tristan

Booked: Boa Morte, Kovac, Di Michele

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa (Insua, 53), Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio, Benayoun (Dossena, 81), Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Kuyt, Torres (Babel, 71)

Booked: Aurelio, Mascherano

Goals: Gerrard 2, 37 (pen), Babel 83


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