Liverpool maintained the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table with a comfortable 3-0 win over West Ham on Saturday.

With United not playing until Sunday, Liverpool had a great chance to put some extra pressure on the league leaders and the players obliged with a great start that saw them take the lead inside the second minute.

Fernando Torres found Steven Gerrard with a brilliant pass through the Hammers defense and the England international made no mistake from close range to put his side in the lead. West Ham's first real effort on goal came in the 26th minute when Radoslav Kovac headed a free kick inches over the crossbar.

The game was all over by the 38th minute when Torres was tripped inside the area by Luis Boa Morte and though Gerrard missed the chance to score from the spot, he was quick to react and converted from the rebound to double his side's lead.

David Di Michele had a great chance to reduce the deficit minutes from the half time whistle as he raced clear of the Liverpool defense but tripped at the vital moment and tried to cover his mistake for a dive and was rightly booked for the attempt.

With time running out, West Ham pressed ahead in search of a way back into the game but were hit on the counter with Ryan Babel ending any lingering hopes of a recovery with a third goal with just six minutes on the clock.