LIVERPOOL boss Rafa Benitez revealed hat-trick hero Fernando Torres nearly missed last night's 4-0 mauling of West Ham.

Reports had suggested that the Spanish striker would be ruled out of the clash because of illness, and how the Hammers defence would have wished that that was the case after he rattled in netting his second consecutive hat-trick at Anfield, his third treble of the season.

"He had a small problem and our first thought was to rest him, but he was ok," Benitez told the club's official website.

"Just before he scored his third I had told Crouch to get ready to go on and maybe Torres saw him and pushed himself harder."

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