Liverpool grabbed their best win of the season when two goals by newly-confident Spanish striker Fernando Torres clinched victory over EPL table-toppers Chelsea at a raucous Anfield.

Roy Hodgson’s men could not have asked for a better start than taking the lead with the first incisive move of the match.

Dirk Kuyt’s ball over the top was brilliantly controlled by Torres’s first touch and despatched into the net with Torres’s second, on 11 minutes.

Chances were at a premium in the opening half. So Torres’s second goal was as vital as it was spectacular, as he cut inside from the left flank and curled a sweetly-struck shot round a static, well-beaten Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal.

The visitors dominated possession after half-time but Liverpool restricted Chelsea to few opportunities, and rode their luck when the Blues came close to scoring.

Ramires headed over an Ashley Cole cross and Yuri Zhirkov forced a near-post save from Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina, before Reina produced a wonderful stop to keep out Florent Malouda’s close-range half-volley.

And Nicolas Anelka’s right-foot shot bounced up onto the crossbar after Reina dived over it, before Jamie Carragher’s terrific last-ditch tackle prevented Didier Drogba sweeping home the rebound.