Fernando Torres scored a brace as Liverpool brushed aside troubled Portsmouth to keep themselves in the race for fourth.

Liverpool blew Portsmouth away with three goals in six first-half minutes before running out 4-1 winners at Anfield on Monday night.

Fernando Torres was involved in all four goals and top-scored on the night with 10 points for his two goals and two assists, while Alberto Aquilani scored five points for a goal and an assist.

Torres opened the scoring with a tap-in following an error from stand-in Pompey keeper Jamie Ashdown.

Ashdown kicked the ball straight at Steven Gerrard and it rebounded to Maxi Rodriquez who's square pass enabled Torres to finish into an empty net.

Ryan Babel doubled the lead two minutes later, allowing Torres' pass to run across his body before firing low into the bottom corner.

Four minutes later Aquilani bagged his first goal in English football, Torres rolling the ball into the path of the Italian who swept it home.

Torres' second came 15 minutes from time and was more of an individual effort, he received a short pass from Aquilani before cutting inside his marker and smashing an unstoppable shot past Ashdown.

Frederic Piquionne grabbed a late consolation two minutes from time, tapping home a low Nadir Belhadj cross at the far post.