Fernando Torres scored a brilliant hat-trick to boost Chelsea's hopes of a top-four finish and pile the misery on relegation-threatened QPR.

Daniel Sturridge scored after 45 seconds before John Terry headed home and Torres struck twice as Chelsea swept into a 4-0 lead after 25 minutes.

Chelsea energy surprises Di Matteo

Torres sealed his hat-trick after the break, with Florent Malouda making it 6-0 before Djibril Cisse's consolation.

Chelsea are sixth, with QPR above the drop zone on goal difference.

Playing with the sort of confidence and ability which persuaded Blues owner Roman Abramovich to pay £50m for his services, Torres ripped the Rangers defence to pieces with his direct running and clinical finishing.

Clearly buoyed by his goal against Barcelona in the Champions League, he continually latched on to clever, probing through balls from Juan Mata, Salomon Kalou and Sturridge.

And if the Champions League victory over Barcelona was built on solid foundations, this demolition was more to do with sheer skill and class.

Did you know?

  • The victory over QPR was Chelsea's 400th in the Premier League

From the moment Sturridge cut inside and fired home from 25 yards, there was only going to be one winner.

Terry doubled the home side's lead, heading home Mata's corner, before Torres ran on to Kalou's delightful pass to round Paddy Kenny and make it 3-0, with his second coming as Nedum Onuoha and Paddy Kenny made a complete hash of a clearance.

After Mata missed a good chance to make it five shortly after half-time, Jamie Mackie almost offered his side something to cheer about when his stinging shot was turned wide by Petr Cech.

Hughes demands QPR improvement

Torres looked to be getting closer to his first hat-trick since 2009 when his powerful shot from the edge of the area was beaten away by Kenny.

And the moment finally came in the 64th minute when the Spaniard was put through on goal by Mata's inch-perfect pass and he side-footed into the far corner.

Substitute Malouda made it six when he smashed in from close range before Cisse hooked a shot across Cech into the net.

It was of little consolation for the Hoops, whose inadequacies were woefully exposed by their rampant hosts.

There was still time for Chelsea supporters to sing the name of caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo and, after finally getting the best out of his owner's £50m investment, what price the Italian being given the job on a permanent basis?

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Chelsea

  • 01 Cech
  • 03 Cole
  • 17 Bosingwa (Hutchinson - 81' )
  • 19 Ferreira
  • 26 Terry
  • 05 Essien
  • 08 Lampard
  • 09 Torres
  • 10 Mata (Malouda - 67' )
  • 21 Kalou (Ramires - 73' )
  • 23 Sturridge

Substitutes

  • 22 Turnbull
  • 27 Hutchinson
  • 06 Romeu
  • 07 Ramires
  • 15 Malouda
  • 16 Meireles
  • 11 Drogba

Queens Park Rangers

  • 01 Kenny
  • 03 Hill
  • 34 Taiwo
  • 35 Ferdinand
  • 42 Onuoha
  • 04 Derry
  • 14 Buzsaky (Traore - 66' )
  • 17 Barton Booked
  • 12 Mackie
  • 23 Cisse
  • 52 Zamora (Wright-Phillips - 78' )

Substitutes

  • 24 Cerny
  • 06 Gabbidon
  • 13 Traore
  • 18 Young
  • 32 Wright-Phillips
  • 09 Campbell
  • 21 Smith
Ref: H Webb
Att: 41,675

Match Stats

Shots

25 11

On target

18 7

Corners

8 5

Fouls

9 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:49 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:56

Shot on goal by Florent Malouda from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

90:00 +2:18

Shot by Fernando Torres from 18 yards. Blocked by Nedum Onuoha. Short corner worked by Florent Malouda.

90:00 +0:52

Centre by Joey Barton, clearance made by Michael Essien.

89:48

Florent Malouda has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

87:38

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Frank Lampard played to the near post, clearance made by Jamie Mackie.

85:27

Paulo Ferreira challenges Armand Traore unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Joey Barton from left wing, Michael Essien manages to make a clearance. Taye Taiwo takes a shot. Blocked by Paulo Ferreira.

86:09

Inswinging corner taken by Joey Barton from the left by-line, Ramires manages to make a clearance.

85:27

Paulo Ferreira concedes a free kick for a foul on Armand Traore. Free kick crossed right-footed by Joey Barton, Michael Essien manages to make a clearance. Nedum Onuoha takes a shot. Blocked by Paulo Ferreira.

84:58

Shaun Wright-Phillips produces a cross.

83:49

Assist by Nedum Onuoha.

83:49 Goal scored

Goal - Djibril Cisse - Chelsea 6 - 1 QPR Djibril Cisse finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Chelsea 6-1 QPR.

82:52

The assistant referee flags for offside against John Terry. Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

82:03

Djibril Cisse takes a shot. John Terry gets a block in.

80:53 Substitution

Substitution Sam Hutchinson is brought on as a substitute for Jose Bosingwa.

79:03

Ramires provided the assist for the goal.

79:03 Goal scored

Goal - Florent Malouda - Chelsea 6 - 0 QPR A goal is scored by Florent Malouda from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Chelsea 6-0 QPR.

79:01

Ramires sends in a cross,

77:08 Substitution

Substitution Shaun Wright-Phillips comes on in place of Bobby Zamora.

77:08

The ball is sent over by Michael Essien.

76:51

Ramires takes a shot. Patrick Kenny makes a save.

75:06

A cross is delivered by Paulo Ferreira, clearance made by Anton Ferdinand.

74:07

The referee blows for offside against Djibril Cisse. Free kick taken by Petr Cech.

72:35 Substitution

Substitution Ramires joins the action as a substitute, replacing Salomon Kalou.

72:35

Armand Traore crosses the ball. Header from deep inside the penalty area by Djibril Cisse goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

71:22

Fernando Torres gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nedum Onuoha. Anton Ferdinand restarts play with the free kick.

70:58

Joey Barton takes the outswinging corner, Frank Lampard makes a clearance.

70:24

Shot by Florent Malouda from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

69:46

Shaun Derry fouled by Fernando Torres, the ref awards a free kick. Clint Hill takes the direct free kick.

69:01

Armand Traore delivers the ball, comfortable save by Petr Cech.

68:11

The ball is crossed by Nedum Onuoha.

66:42

Corner taken by Frank Lampard from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Anton Ferdinand.

66:42 Substitution

Substitution Juan Mata goes off and Florent Malouda comes on.

66:30

Daniel Sturridge takes a shot. Blocked by Anton Ferdinand.

65:39

The referee blows for offside. Petr Cech restarts play with the free kick.

65:01 Substitution

Substitution Armand Traore comes on in place of Akos Buzsaky.

63:35

The assist for the goal came from Juan Mata.

63:35 Goal scored

Goal - Fernando Torres - Chelsea 5 - 0 QPR Fernando Torres gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Chelsea 5-0 QPR.

63:18

The ball is crossed by Jamie Mackie.

61:31

Shaun Derry concedes a free kick for a foul on Juan Mata. Strike comes in from Juan Mata from the free kick.

60:21

Frank Lampard restarts play with the free kick.

60:21 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Joey Barton for unsporting behaviour.

59:55

Joey Barton challenges Frank Lampard unfairly and gives away a free kick.

58:34

Fernando Torres takes a shot from 20 yards. Save by Patrick Kenny.

57:16

Juan Mata fouled by Joey Barton, the ref awards a free kick. John Terry restarts play with the free kick.

56:41

Clint Hill gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fernando Torres. Juan Mata takes the free kick.

55:54

The ball is delivered by Jose Bosingwa, blocked by Akos Buzsaky.

55:11

Corner taken by Frank Lampard from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Bobby Zamora.

53:46

Jamie Mackie has a drilled shot. Petr Cech makes a save. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Akos Buzsaky, Michael Essien manages to make a clearance.

53:23

Djibril Cisse produces a cross, clearance made by John Terry.

52:27

Michael Essien concedes a free kick for a foul on Taye Taiwo. Free kick taken by Clint Hill.

50:54

Juan Mata takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny.

48:43

The ball is crossed by Daniel Sturridge, Patrick Kenny makes a comfortable save.

48:19

Centre by Bobby Zamora.

46:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Juan Mata by Shaun Derry. Direct free kick taken by John Terry.

45:37

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Bobby Zamora by Jose Bosingwa. Direct free kick taken by Taye Taiwo.

45:13

The offside flag is raised against Bobby Zamora. Free kick taken by John Terry.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +2:15 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +0:37

A cross is delivered by Taye Taiwo.

44:32

Effort on goal by Fernando Torres from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.

40:38

Daniel Sturridge sends in a cross, clearance made by Shaun Derry.

39:12

Centre by Taye Taiwo, clearance made by Paulo Ferreira. Inswinging corner taken by Akos Buzsaky, Jose Bosingwa makes a clearance.

38:31

Taye Taiwo takes a shot. Blocked by Paulo Ferreira.

37:51

Ashley Cole challenges Nedum Onuoha unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Anton Ferdinand.

36:28

Shot from just outside the box by Nedum Onuoha goes over the crossbar.

36:17

Centre by Nedum Onuoha, Jose Bosingwa manages to make a clearance.

34:54

Frank Lampard takes a shot. Blocked by Anton Ferdinand. Effort from outside the penalty box by Michael Essien goes wide right of the goal.

33:41

Djibril Cisse fouled by Michael Essien, the ref awards a free kick. Taye Taiwo restarts play with the free kick.

33:18

Clint Hill gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Juan Mata. Free kick taken by Juan Mata.

31:43

Ashley Cole fouled by Shaun Derry, the ref awards a free kick. Frank Lampard restarts play with the free kick. Centre by Daniel Sturridge.

29:53

Michael Essien challenges Shaun Derry unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Clint Hill.

28:53

Frank Lampard takes a shot. Patrick Kenny makes a save.

26:28

Salomon Kalou produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.

26:02

Short corner taken by Frank Lampard.

25:48

Fernando Torres crosses the ball, clearance by Anton Ferdinand.

24:11 Goal scored

Goal - Fernando Torres - Chelsea 4 - 0 QPR Fernando Torres gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Chelsea 4-0 QPR.

22:46

Joey Barton takes a shot. John Terry gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken by Akos Buzsaky, clearance made by John Terry.

20:11

Juan Mata is caught offside. Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

18:39

Assist by Salomon Kalou.

18:39 Goal scored

Goal - Fernando Torres - Chelsea 3 - 0 QPR A goal is scored by Fernando Torres from deep inside the penalty box low into the middle of the goal. Chelsea 3-0 QPR.

14:54

The offside flag is raised against Salomon Kalou. Indirect free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

12:47

The assist for the goal came from Juan Mata.

12:47 Goal scored

Goal - John Terry - Chelsea 2 - 0 QPR John Terry scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Chelsea 2-0 QPR.

11:11

Juan Mata sends in a cross. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Frank Lampard, Salomon Kalou takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny. Effort from 18 yards by John Terry. Save by Patrick Kenny. Frank Lampard takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny. Inswinging corner taken by Juan Mata,

8:19

Djibril Cisse takes a shot. Blocked by Jose Bosingwa. Daniel Sturridge takes a shot. Shaun Derry gets a block in.

6:44

Taye Taiwo concedes a free kick for a foul on Salomon Kalou. Direct free kick taken by Paulo Ferreira.

6:20

Djibril Cisse takes a shot. Comfortable save by Petr Cech.

5:25

The ball is delivered by Djibril Cisse. The ball is sent over by Djibril Cisse, save made by Petr Cech.

4:29

Jose Bosingwa takes a shot. Clint Hill gets a block in. Corner taken by Juan Mata, clearance made by Shaun Derry.

2:06

Jose Bosingwa challenges Bobby Zamora unfairly and gives away a free kick. Akos Buzsaky shoots direct from the free kick.

0:45 Goal scored

Goal - Daniel Sturridge - Chelsea 1 - 0 QPR Goal scored by Daniel Sturridge from outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Chelsea 1-0 QPR.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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