FULL TIME: Torres gives scoring masterclass to see off directionless Hammers

WEST Ham will have to wait a while longer to end their 45-year winless run at Anfield after they were resoundly beaten by Liverpool this evening.

A Fernando Torres hat trick - his second in consecutive games at Anfield - and a Steven Gerrard screamer fired the Reds back into the Champions League places above city rivals Everton.

For West Ham, back to back 4-0 defeats all-but ends their slim hopes of claiming a UEFA Cup spot.

Torres ran riot from the off and went close to opening the scoring in the seventh minute with a header that flew just wide.

But the prolific marksman made amends a minute later when he beat Anton Ferdinand to Dirk Kuyt's teasing cross and turned in his 22nd goal of the season.

Luis Boa Morte spurned Hammers best chance of the match soon after.

A neat move involving Carlton Cole and Hayden Mullins released the Portgual winger through on goal. He rounded Reds keeper Pepe Reina but delayed his shot enough for Alvaro Arbeloa to get back and block.

Aside from that chance, the Irons lacked any aspirations to break forward and, as such, failed to cause Reina any significant problems.

Liverpool however, were rampant. Gerrard's poked effort forced Robert Green into a quality near-post reaction save just before the break.

Martin Skrtel then flicked a header from Gerrard's corner just over the crossbar.

And it was much the same in the second half. Torres headed in his second on the hour mark from another Kuyt cross to effectively make the game safe.

The Spaniard soon directed an effort from a super Gerrard cross onto the post with Green well beaten.

But he was not to be denied the match ball when, with ten minutes to go, he found time and space in the box and calmy slotted past Green.

Liverpool saved the best until last, as moments later Gerrard found the top corner with a trademark 25-yard rasper.

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