Goals: Torres 8', 61', 81', Gerrard 83'

Fernando Torres swept Liverpool back into the top four of the Premier League Wednesday on a night when the fans made it clear they wanted the club’s American ownership swept out of Anfield.

Torres, the shining light of Liverpool’s season, became only the fourth player in the club’s history to score hat-tricks in successive home matches as he set the Reds on course for a 4-0 win over West Ham.

Steven Gerrard scored the other goal

But despite moving above city rivals Everton, the dark cloud of the war for control of the club was never far away at Anfield.

Before kick-off and at half-time fans all around the ground sung and chanted their anger at the American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

This week, Gillett has been considering an offer from Dubai International Capital to buy his 50% stake in the club.

That was the end product of late-night talks in London Tuesday between Gillett’s lawyers and DIC negotiators, led by Amanda Staveley, the former girlfriend of Prince Andrew who has emerged as a key mover in the takeover saga.

Liverpool: Reina - Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Riise - Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Babel (Pennant, 76') - Kuyt (Benayoun, 63'), Torres (Crouch, 82').

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