Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres grabbed two goals each as Liverpool thrashed Derby 6-0 to go top of the table for the first time in five years.

Alonso's opener came after 27 minutes when his 35-yard free-kick flew in through a crowd of players.

Ryan Babel doubled the lead just before half-time when he cut inside two defenders and drilled a shot into the net from 12 yards.

It was 3-0 after 56 minutes when Javier Mascherano dispossessed Bob Malcolm, slipped in Torres and the Spaniard fired past Stephen Bywater for his first goal in front of the Kop.

Alonso grabbed his second after 69 minutes when Babel played in Yossi Benayoun and the ball squirted to the Spaniard who sidefooted home from 20 yards.

Andriy Voronin added the fifth when he poked home from close range on 76 before Torres sealed the win with his second two minutes later.