Chelsea striker Fernando Torres turns attention to FA Cup final with Liverpool following hat-trick

Fernando Torres had one eye on Chelsea's FA Cup final with Liverpool after scoring his first hat-trick since his £50million move from Anfield.

Yesterday saw Torres produce the best performance of his 15 months with the Blues as he continued his resurgence under caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich high-fived his companions in the Stamford Bridge directors' box after Torres completed his long-awaited treble in the 6-1 west London derby thrashing of QPR.

Abramovich's glee would have been laced with relief at watching the man for whom he smashed the transfer record between British clubs come good in the most spectacular fashion.

Torres, who also scored in Tuesday's sensational Champions League semi-final triumph over Barcelona, has now given Di Matteo a real selection headache for Wednesday night's crunch game with Newcastle, Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley.

"Two finals and a massive game against Newcastle in three days," Torres told BBC Sport following what was his first hat-trick since September 2009.

"We need to win.

"We will be closer to reaching the top four and, of course, if we win this game, we will approach the game against Liverpool in the FA Cup final with more motivation.

"So, it can be a great week."

Di Matteo was giving nothing away about whether he would favour Torres in the coming days or Didier Drogba, who is also in scintillating form.

"We have to play Newcastle on Wednesday and I need to reassess my players in the next couple of days to see how they have recovered and how they are to pick a strong team," Di Matteo said.

"Then we'll think about the final."

The Italian, who refused to rule out playing Torres and Drogba in tandem, added: "It's great for this football club that we've got all these players now full of confidence and belief in themselves, and everybody wants to play. It's fantastic.

"It's the only way we can achieve our targets."

QPR's target is simple after they suffered their heaviest ever defeat to Chelsea and the biggest loss of Mark Hughes' managerial career.

Hughes admitted it was the lowest point of his Loftus Road reign as Rangers remained perilously close to the drop zone.

"I know, when we play well, what we can produce," said Hughes, who has picked up one point away from home since taking charge in January.

"We haven't been able to do that on our travels.

"We've got to get to the bottom of it, and we will do."

QPR's final two games are against Stoke and at Manchester City and Hughes added: "There were still some positives we can take out of it - obviously more negatives.

"But we'll pick ourselves up. We can't dwell on this.

"It about making sure we get maximum points next week."

PA