Liverpool 4 Burnley 0

YOSSI BENAYOUN breathed life into Liverpool's title charge with a brilliant hat-trick.

Reds keeper Pepe Reina questioned whether the Anfield side had what it takes to land the Premier League crown ahead of kick off.

But they responded in superb fashion with Benayoun proving the difference.

He netted three and set-up Dirk Kuyt's effort to see off battling Burnley.

And Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez said: "Yossi had been away on international duty in midweek and done a lot of travelling, but he wanted to play.

"It is important to him to show his quality in every training session and every match.

"Over the seasons he has shown his value coming off the bench but now he is showing how important he can be with movement and passing ability from the start."

Burnley boss Owen Coyle admitted his side must learn not to give away soft goals to quality opposition.

He said: "If you switch off against players like these, you will be punished.

"I can't argue with the result, we were playing against world-class players."

The Clarets started brightly with Martin Paterson firing wide from the edge of the box.

However, Liverpool began to dominate and Kuyt produced a low shot that was saved by Burnley keeper Brian Jensen.

Fernando Torres saw a curling 20-yard shot go over before Benayoun flashed a header just wide.

He soon made up for the miss when he broke the deadlock on 27 minutes.

The Israeli raced down the right, cut inside and beat Jensen with a well-taken finish.

Benayoun was on fire and almost doubled the lead when he headed straight at Jensen.

The big Dane did well to deny Dirk Kuyt with the rebound before making a strong save from Lucas.

Benayoun nearly diverted Albert Riera's shot goalwards but it fizzed just wide.

Kuyt gave Liverpool a two-goal lead at half time after a brilliant Livepool counter-attack.

From a Clarets corner, Kop keeper Pepe Reina cleared to Torres, who laid off the ball to Emiliano Insua.

He crossed to Benayoun who shot at Jenson, only for the keeper to spill to Kuyt to tap in.

Liverpool kept up their assault after the break with Riera seeing two efforts blocked while Jensen saved from a Kuyt flick.

Torres was starting to stretch a tiring Burnley defence but Tyron Mears' fine saving tackle denied the Spaniard.

On 61 minutes it was three as Torres found Steve Gerrard, who battered his way into the box to find Benayoun for a tap-in.

The winger was is sensational form and had the ball in the net, only for his effort to be scrubbed out for offside.

He did finally seal his hat-trick after a smart one-two with sub Andriy Voronin and cool finish.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson (Degen 64), Skrtel, Carragher, Insua, Gerrard, Lucas, Kuyt (Voronin 69), Benayoun, Riera, Torres (Ngog 75). Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Spearing, Dossena. Goals: Benayoun 27, Kuyt 41, Benayoun 61, 82.

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Bikey, Jordan, Alexander (Gudjonsson 75), Blake (Eagles 58), McCann, Elliott, Steven Fletcher, Paterson (Nugent 70). Subs Not Used: Penny, McDonald, Thompson, Guerrero. Booked: Jordan, Eagles.

Att: 43,817

Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire).