Barclays Premier League
Gareth Davis reports from Anfield

Liverpool's big-money buys did the damage as Derby fell to a heavy defeat on Merseyside.

Xabi Alonso netted the first before Ryan Babel doubled the lead right on half-time, then Fernando Torres and Alonso again made it four before the hour.

Andriy Voronin netted with his first touch on 75 and seconds later the Reds were six up through Torres's second of the afternoon.

Mo Camara and Bob Malcolm retained their places in the starting line-up following Tuesday's Carling Cup exit at the hands of Blackpool.

There were also recalls for Matt Oakley, Steve Howard, Andy Todd, Andy Griffin, Claude Davis and Stephen Pearson, while Tyrone Mears was fit again after a thigh injury.

A groin problem ruled David Jones out while the home side had the luxury of calling upon Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Jermaine Pennant, Ryan Babel and Steve Finnan after their Champions League hammering of Toulouse in midweek.

Derby looked at ease in the surroundings during the first couple of minutes and indeed had the game's first shot, but Mears's effort from distance sailed into the Kop.

But Anfield's volume level rose on three minutes as Daniel Agger strode forward and cracked in a long-range shot that was deflected and forced Stephen Bywater to save superbly.

Bywater sprung into action again to grab a looping Torres header from Pennant's right-wing cross, though it was more a save for the cameras as he never looked like being beaten.

In between times Stephen Pearson strode forward from midfield and had plenty of space but looked to pull the ball back to Matt Oakley, and saw his pass blocked, when a shot from inside the area appeared the better option.

Alonso and Dirk Kuyt flashed long-range efforts not far past the post but again neither seriously threatened to open the scoring.

Javier Mascherano was next to try his luck from 20 yards but Bywater was down to his right and watched the ball on safely past the post.

But a set-piece by Alonso opened the scoring on 26 minutes and Derby will be have disappointed to concede in the manner they did.

The Spaniard played a ball into the box from about seven yards in from the left touchline, probably 20 yards inside the Derby half, and it swung towards the far post before dipping in and beating Bywater, who was possibly deceived as Kuyt ran across but didn't get a touch.

It was harsh on Derby, who had started the game looking calm and assured despite some disappointing results of late.

But Liverpool were lifted and Pennant, the villain of the piece after being fouled for the free-kick that led to the goal, stormed down the left.

He crossed to the far post where Kuyt met the ball with his head but couldn't keep his effort under the crossbar.

It was a similar story on 35 as Pennant and Mascherano exchanged passes to send the winger clear once more and Kuyt was again in position only to volley over the bar.

Finnan got forward down the right five minutes before half-time and slipped the ball in to Torres, who could only fire over from inside the box with Todd adding pressure.

The normally vibrant Anfield atmosphere had been strangely subdued for much of the first half but in stoppage-time the volume went up a few notches as Liverpool doubled their lead.

Alvaro Arbeloa made ground down the left and slipped the ball back to Babel on the edge of the box.

The Dutchman tricked Davis and Griffin into diving in before steadying himself and smashing his shot past Bywater from just inside the area.

Liverpool opened up the second period with a move involving Arbeloa, Torres and Kuyt that ultimately fed Alonso some ten yards out.

But with the goal gaping the usually deadly midfielder spooned his shot up and over the bar and into a disbelieving Kop.

However the third goal did come on 55 and it was a moment to savour for the Reds' record signing.

Mascherano robbed Malcolm and slipped the ball inside to Torres, who still had to escape the attentions of Davis and Griffin before slotting his shot past Bywater for his first goal in front of the Kop.

And seconds later he should have done better than screw an effort wide from close-range after a Kuyt shot was deflected through to him.

Anfield was in full voice as Mascherano strode through on to Kuyt's back-heel but could only fire limply at Bywater from the edge of the box.

That was the cue for Gary Teale to be introduced in place of Malcolm, and Liverpool responded by taking off Penant for Yossi Benayoun.

Jay McEveley was next into the action to replace Camara, who had made his first league start since February.

Griffin was cautioned for a foul on Torres but Alonso failed to make the most of a decent crossing opportunity from the resulting free-kick.

But was four on 68 with Alonso again the man on target.

Benayoun had looked set to pull the trigger from 14 yards but McEveley got in with a fine challenge, only for the ball to roll out to Alonso and back past Bywater with perfect precision from the edge of the box.

Steve Howard's golden opportunity for a first Premier League goal arrived three minutes later.

Mears was the architect with another powerful run down the right and his fine cross was met by the big number nine, who couldn't direct his header goalwards from eight yards.

And with 15 minutes left Liverpool went five in front.

Kuyt was released down the inside-left channel and although Bywater couldn't hold his cross-shot, Voronin - only on as a substitute for a few minutes - was on hand to fire the loose ball home with his first touch.

Seconds later it was six as Todd failed to deal with a ball through and Torres nipped in to take the ball away and round Bywater before sliding it into an empty net.

Jose Reina made his first save of the game on 78 as Pearson broke and fired in a 20-yarder that almost squeezed under the Spaniard, who got back to grab it at the second attempt.

Kuyt tried to lob Bywater from the edge of the box as Liverpool threatened a seventh with time running out.

They didn't find one, but even right at the end the Derby fans could still be heard singing the loudest despite the afternoon's scoreline.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia (C), Agger, Arbeloa, Pennant (Benayoun 60), Alonso, Mascherano (Sissoko 76), Babel (Voronin 72), Kuyt, Torres.

SUBS: Itandje (GK), Riise.

DERBY: Bywater, Mears, Davis, Todd, Griffin (Moore 79), Malcolm (Teale 58), Fagan, Oakley (C), Pearson, Camara (McEveley 62), Howard.

SUBS: Price (GK), Earnshaw.