Fernando Torres believes he can top last season's 33-goal tally after finding his form in the Merseyside derby.

The striker had been out of touch this term, with just one goal since his Euro 2008 heroics for Spain.

But his two goals in three second-half minutes maintained Liverpool's unbeaten record this season and left Everton still searching for their first home win of the campaign.

Everton's day was made worse by the red card which was shown to Tim Cahill by referee Mike Riley for a late challenge on Xabi Alonso.

Everton manager David Moyes did not feel the tackle warranted a red card, and said: "It was not the worst foul of the day and I felt it was only a yellow. We will be asking the referee to have a look at the decision and hope he will rescind the card."

But the day belonged to Torres, who said after Liverpool's 2-0 victory: "I have kept working hard at my game and I knew the goals would come.

"It has been a difficult start for me this season after a busy summer. But now I have got myself back into form with these two, I hope to go on a run like last season and maybe get more than the 33 I managed then."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was not quite so ambitious, admitting: "I would settle for 32 from him! If he does that I will be happy.

"We are playing with confidence and controlled the game. We are top, probably for only a while, but we want to make sure we are at the top for a long time.

"As for the red card, Xabi told me it could have been a lot worse, he felt it was justified."

Liverpool cut loose in the second half as Torres slotted home Robbie Keane's cross for the opening goal and then slammed his second after Keane created the opportunity with a fierce run into the box.

Cahill's dismissal was to follow, the eighth red card in the last eight derbies, and the 17th in 33 Premier League meetings between the teams.

Moyes said: "I did not feel Cahill should have been sent off. Maybe the referee even changed his mind about what card to show.

"My first thought was that it was worse because Tim had not gone to the referee when he'd been asked to.

"But that would have warranted two yellows. I did not think anyone in the ground felt that the tackle deserved a red card.

"I certainly didn't and I was worried that he had not walked to the referee, and I was trying to get him to turn around and go back because he was going to get booked, so let's get on with it.

"To then see a red I felt was a wrong decision. We will ask the referee about it."

Moyes admits he is concerned about his team's form this season.

He said: "Our start does worry me.

"It is the same group of players, in the main, who finished fifth last season. Our performances have not matched that.

"Sometimes you cannot find the winning formula, so it is my job to sort things out.

"Maybe you can see the difference £100million makes to a team, but I expect my team to compete. And for most of the game they did."

Benitez, who completed a double over Everton last season, maintained his grip on Merseyside showdowns.

He said: "It was important for Fernando and us that he has started scoring, so to get two in a derby is massive for him.

"It is positive that he has confidence now. I just want him to keep scoring now.

"I must praise Robbie Keane for doing a good job, he played a part in both goals.

"We are still unbeaten and we are able now to approach games with more confidence.

"In these games you need to play with passion. but also game intelligence, you need to use your brain and your muscles.

"We have confidence, we are playing well and have balance. We attack well and are strong in defence. If you play like this, you can beat anyone."

Liverpool have lost just two of the last 11 derbies at Goodison and have won seven of the last nine, and have lost just two of their last 18 meetings with Everton. The stranglehold just got tighter today.