Liverpool 6-1 Hull City: Fernando Torres Triple Thrashes Tigers

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Liverpool grabbed three more Premier League points after embarrassing Hull City at Anfield this afternoon.

Fernando Torres was magnificent, scoring twice in the first half before completing his hat-trick early in the second half. Brazilian Geovanni had equalised for the Tigers soon after El Nino scored his first goal, but the Spaniard was on ominous form and Hull were never really in the game despite a spirited showing.

Steven Gerrard then scored with an overhit cross that fortunately found its way into the top corner of the Hull City goal before two late goals from Ryan Babel sealed the Tigers' fate.

Liverpool worked the ball down the left flank, with Emiliano Insua passing the ball to Albert Riera wide on the left. The Spaniard pulled the ball back across the box with a low cross, Torres controlled with his right foot, moving onto his left and slotted the ball into the left-hand side of the net. 1-0 to Liverpool with 12 minutes played.

Hull City equalised through Geovanni three minutes later. Paul McShane crossed from deep on the right and the ball was headed back across the penalty area by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Jamie Carragher connected with a poor header and the ball fell to Giovanni on the right-hand side of the box, the Brazilian smashed the ball back across the goal and into the right-hand side of Pepe Reina's goal, 1-1.

Liverpool responded as Insua brought the ball forward from the back. The Tigers defence backed off the Argentinean and the young left-back elected to shoot as he came inside. His shot was struck well but deflected wide of the left-hand post. 

Insua was involved again as Liverpool grew in confidence, Riera threaded the ball to the Argentinean who was in an advanced position in the left channel. Insua got his head up and picked out Lucas Leiva on the edge of the box. The Brazilian midfielder hit a decent strike goalwards but Boaz Myhill made a comfortable save low to his left.

Torres scored his second of the game in the 27th minute, El Nino made an arching run off the last defender into the right-hand side of the penalty area that was spotted by Yossi Benayoun.

The Israeli sent a perfectly weighted pass to the Spaniard, who showed wonderful footwork to navigate Ibrahima Sonko and then round Myhill before finishing easily into the open net. 2-1 to Liverpool.

The second half began with Torres sealing his hat-trick two minutes after the restart. The Spaniard combined with Benayoun to engineer space in the penalty area and El Nino finished coolly to extend Liverpool's lead, 3-1 to the Reds.

Hull responded well

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