(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Liverpool made a statement to their rivals this afternoon as they hammered Hull at Anfield.
On the day when Chelsea dropped their first points of the season, Liverpool were able to make up some of the ground they lost earlier in the season after Fernando Torres scored a sensational hat-trick, his fourth for the club, to guide his team to a win.
Liverpool were then able to make the result resounding with three more goals, though in truth Hull had to completely capitulate before 'The Reds' were able to control the game.
Torres almost got himself on the score-sheet before 60 seconds had passed after Gerrard had played him through but Baoaz Myhill, Hull's goalkeeper, managed to get to the ball before the Spaniard for the only time in the game.
The Liverpool faithful only had ten minutes to wait before 'El Nino' did open the scoring. Insua and Riera linked up on the left hand side and when the ball came in to Torres, he cushioned the ball beautifully with his right foot.
Ibrahim Sonko, the Hull defender clearly thought Torres would try and keep the ball on his right side but, yet again, the number nine showed a turn of pace that caught everyone off guard and hit the ball across the keeper with his weaker foot.
Geovanni equalised for Hull a couple of minutes later after Martin Skrtel's attempt to head the ball clear failed and dropped perfectly for the Brazilian, who volleyed emphatically into the goal.
Unfortunately for Phil Brown, that was as good as it got for his team. Torres scored again before half time after Yossi Benayoun put him through with a delicate pass. Torres cut back onto his left side again and, after rounding both the sliding defender and Myhill, he tapped the ball into an empty net.
The Spaniard completed his hat-trick early in the second half after Benayoun again put him through with only the keeper to beat. Instead of attempting a shot with his right foot, as everyone expected, Torres turned inside and managed to get the ball between Paul McShane's legs.
Despite the final scoreline, Liverpool looked lethargic throughout the first hour and weren't able to set the tempo of the game. Their passing was poor and was epitomized by a substandard performance from Steven Gerrard.
The captain wasn't totally without mention though as he scored a fantastic goal; if he meant it. He had whipped a corner into the box but the clearance only reached Insua on the left hand side.
The Argentinian passed the ball on to Gerrard who was in line with the edge of the penalty area but out on the touchline. His shot curled into the net after hitting the underside of the bar. It will be interesting to see if the Scouser calls it lucky for, if not, it was certainly genius.
Rafael Benitez looked to the week ahead and, with a couple of tough fixtures against Fiorentina and Chelsea, decided to withdraw his three best performers of the season so far - Torres, Gerrard and Benayoun.
Babel was the substitute able to make the biggest impact as he wrapped up the win with two more goals from the bench.
His first was an easy finish, but he had made the chance himself after a neat ball through to Kuyt and a quick turn away for his marker gave him enough space for his compatriot to find him in the first place.
His second was very lucky as Albert Riera, a constant threat down the left side all afternoon along with Insua, shot, only for it to hit Babel's heel and loop over the miserable Myhill.
Liverpool could have scored many more in the last 10 minutes. Hull looked completely broken and their performance was summed up by that of Sonko who looked uncomfortable with Torres all afternoon and constantly made mistakes.
Riera, Lucas, Johnson and Voronin could all have humiliated Hull further but none quite managed to find the target.
Brown was never expected to win this game, but the manner of the result will only add to the pressure he is already under.
Benitez, on the other hand, will feel that this is the perfect start to a week that may well set the agenda for the rest of Liverpool's season.
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