A rampant Liverpool tore apart struggling Hull City thanks to a hat-trick from the unmarkable Fernando Torres, who cast aside all worries about his early season form.

Hull boss Phil Brown will be under increasing pressure after his side’s capitulation.

He gave 18-year-old Hull-born Liam Cooper his Premier League debut, but the task of keeping Torres, Steven Gerrard et al at bay proved too much for the entire Tigers rearguard.

Torres gave Liverpool a 12^th minute lead when his smart turn and left-foot shot from twelve yards left Hull defenders both flat-footed and wrong-footed.

Geovanni volleyed home a terrific equaliser in front of the Kop three minutes later.

But Liverpool were ahead again shortly before the half-hour mark when Yossi Benayoun sent Torres clear and he cut inside defenders and goalkeeper alike before applying a cheeky right-foot finish into an empty net.

Torres completed his hat-trick on 47 minutes with a fine left-foot shot after once again being set up by the in-form Benayoun.

Steven Gerrard made it 4-1 just past the hour when he aimed a right foot cross from the left at Torres at the far post and saw it arrow over keeper Boaz Myhill’s head and just inside that post.

With a Champions League trip to Florence on Tuesday in mind, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez brought off Torres, Gerrard and Benayoun.

But Liverpool’s momentum was barely halted. And substitute Ryan Babel turned in Dirk Kuyt’s near-post ball on 89 minutes before inadvertently deflecting Albert Riera’s stoppage time shot over the luckless Myhill’s head.

Brown was quick to blame his players, saying: “You have to stick to your task individually and collectively at these places. And if you throw in the towel like we did, you get your comeuppance.”

Benitez, meanwhile, praised the “quality, pace and ability” of Torres.