The Spain striker, whose miserable form had mirrored his club's, left the pitch to a standing ovation as a packed Anfield belted out their favourite Torres songs in honour of his two stunning first-half goals.
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Torres doubled his tally of league goals this season and seemed to have finally shaken off the niggling injuries which hampered him during Spain's victorious World Cup campaign.
"People will say he is back to his best and we hope that is the case," manager Roy Hodgson told a news conference.
"He has taken more than his fair share of criticism, today he will get a lot of plaudits."
"It's been difficult for me with injuries but I am training every day and every day feeling better and improving," he said.
"I don't know if I can play my best soon -- but I will as soon as possible. I know the expectation I have but I can handle that."
He opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a superb finish following a sublime pass from Dirk Kuyt, whose return after a month out with an ankle injury improved Liverpool's creativity.
Torres also curled a wonderful shot into the far corner after Raul Meireles snatched the ball off Ashley Cole and lofted the ball forward to the Spaniard, who lived up to his reputation as a thorn in Chelsea's side with a seventh goal in eight games against the Londoners.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti described both goals as "fantastic".
In a more defensive second half, they had keeper Pepe Reina to thank for two wonderful saves, first from Florent Malouda and when he turned Nicolas Anelka's fierce shot on to the bar.
