Liverpool moved back to the top of the table as they inflicted a fourth Premier League loss on Sam Allardyce's Rovers.

Two goals in each half gave the home side an easy afternoon as a weakened Rovers side rarely threatened.

Rovers found themselves a goal down inside five minutes, but what a goal it was, Torres turning and firing home an unstoppable effort.

The Spaniard then added his and Liverpool's second just past the half hour, heading home Alonso's free-kick.

Rovers rallied briefly at the start of the second half, Reina denying efforts from Samba and Warnock, but Liverpool finally got the additional goals their play deserved in the final ten minutes, first when Daniel Agger was allowed to run unopposed to the edge of the area before beating Robinson with a delicious drive.

Then in the final minute David Ngog added the icing on the cake for the Anfield club, heading home from a yard out after Lucas's header back across goal.

It was the fourth defeat a Sam Allardyce side has suffered in his 15 games in charge, like this one all the others had come against sides in the top five. If Rovers get the required result against Stoke City next weekend, all will be forgotten.

With injuries and illness playing its part, Sam Allardyce was forced into making four changes from the side that had stared against Tottenham Hotspur four days earlier.

Jason Roberts and Morten Gamst Pedersen had already been ruled out through injury, but the squad was hit by illness to El-Hadji Diouf, whilst Benni McCarthy only made the subs bench.

Coming in were Andre Ooijer, Tugay, David Dunn and Keith Treacy, but the much-changed Rovers side found themselves a goal down inside the first five minutes of the game courtesy of top scorer Fernando Torres.

A long ball out of defence from Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher found the Spaniard on the edge of the area facing away from goal, but having controlled the ball on his chest, Torres turned brilliantly to lash the ball high over Robinson and into the back of the net, a stupendous strike.

It was the worst possible start for Rovers as they struggled to get to grips with the home side in the early exchanges.

But they weren't helping their own cause either, when from their own free-kick they conspired to set up Liverpool. With all the big men forward, David Dunn chose to play a short free-kick which was closed down, Aaron Mokoena only managed to pick out Riera who in turn found Dirk Kuyt in an advanced position. He unselfishly chose to play the ball square to Javier Mascherano, but Robinson saved one-handed, the ball ran loose to Torres but with the goal at his mercy he lashed horribly wide.

Robinson was called into action again just before the half hour, when from Insua's centre Kuyt planted a bullet header goalwards, but the Rovers number one made a brilliant point-blank stop, although Rovers were grateful that Benayoun wasted the rebound chance.

Pepe Reina was rarely troubled in his area, however a long punt forward did cause problems. Robinson's ball forward saw Agger inexplicably leave the if, Samba got his head in first before the Liverpool stopper could, but the loop was fortunate for the home side and Reina claimed high.

But on 33 minutes the lead was doubled, Keith Andrews had been booked for a trip on Albert Riera, Xabi Alonso whipped in the resulting free-kick and Torres planted his head onto the ball and it flew into the bottom corner of the net. Robinson had no chance.

David Dunn did at least force Reina into a save with a low shot from the edge of the box five minutes before the break, but it was a rare foray forward from Rovers in a half that Liverpool dominated.

Sam Allardyce gave a senior debut to winger Aaron Doran at the start of the second half, the 17-year-old Irishman becoming one of the youngest players to represent the club in the Premier League as he replaced Aaron Mokoena.

With Rovers having a little more balance to their side they started the second half better than the first, restricting the now league leaders to fewer chances. Kuyt saw an effort deflect wide, whilst Riera put a right-footed effort wide of the near post.

Sensing a possible way back into the game Carlos Villanueva came on for David Dunn, and when Keith Treacy found Chris Samba it saw the makeshift striker presented with a possible chance but his header was claimed by Reina.

Stephen Warnock and Samba both saw efforts saved but in the final ten minutes the home side took charge once against and added two further goals that their overall play deserved.

Rovers had showed the defensive qualities required when Robinson had denied Mascherano and then Warnock headed off the line to stop a Benayoun header, but they were sadly absent as Daniel Agger was allowed the freedom of Anfield to run unopposed before lashing an unstoppable effort past effort.

Then in the final minute of the ninety, Jamie Carragher's deep cross saw Lucas head back across goal for David Ngog to head home from a yard out.

It was a match that was never going to have an influence on Rovers' fight for survival, next week's game against Stoke is Sam's main target, but like the game against Arsenal the Rovers boss will have been upset at the capitulation of his team at the death.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Agger, Torres (sub El Zhar 74 mins), Riera, Alonso (sub Lucas 87 mins), Benayoun, Arbeloa, Kuyt (sub Ngog 85 mins), Mascherano, Insua, Carragher (c).

Subs not used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Gerrard, Skrtel.

ROVERS: Robinson, Andrews, Ooijer, Nelsen (c), Givet, Dunn (sub Villanueva 59 mins), Mokoena (sub Doran 46 mins), Tugay (sub Grella 67 mins), Warnock, Andrews, Samba.

Subs not used: Bunn (GK), McCarthy, Khizanishvili, Olsson.

Booked: Agger, Alonso (Liverpool), Andrews (Rovers)

Attendance: 43,466