The Spanish hot-shot headed home his fifth of the season on 75 minutes to secure the points for the Reds after the Hammers had twice levelled before the interval.
 
El Nino had opened the scoring with a magnificent solo effort before Kuyt's close range finish was sandwiched by efforts Alessandro Diamanti and Carlton Cole.
 
The victory means Rafael Benitez's men have moved up to third place in the Barclays Premier League table, three points behind leaders Chelsea, who face Spurs on Sunday.
 
Prior to kick-off Jamie Carragher had spoken of the Red's recent defensive improvement, but on a day that would prove difficult for both rearguards, it was his error that almost gifted the Hammers a dream start on two minutes.
 
Youngster Zavon Hines dispossessed the vice-captain on the edge of the area before racing in on Pepe Reina and crashing a shot against the near post.
 
It was a huge let off for the visitors and they responded on seven minutes when they manufactured an opening that should have seen them take the lead courtesy of a former Hammer.
 
Yossi Benayoun got in behind Julien Faubert on the left-hand side of the West Ham area and latched onto Torres' clever through ball, only to hit his shot straight at Robert Green.
 
El Nino looked like a man keen to make an impression and he had a penalty appeal turned down minutes later when his shot on the turn seemed to strike a West Ham arm.
 
Suddenly it was the Reds who looked the more likely and Emiliano Insua came close to opening his account for the club when he drove infield and sizzled a 25 yard shot just wide of the right-hand post.
 
Both sides were enjoying spells of dominance in a lively first-half and Gianfranco Zola's men came back into it when Glen Johnson almost turned Faubert's cross into his own net, while a desperate challenge by Carragher on Cole was followed by a wayward attempt from Diamanti.
 
On 15 minutes the travelling Kop were treated to their first sighting of the Torres-Steven Gerrard partnership, with the Reds' number 9 smashing his shot wide at the near post after the skipper won possession and crossed from the right.
 
At this point a goal was inevitable and after looking dangerous throughout the opening exchanges, it was no surprise that it arrived courtesy of Torres.
 
A good move down the left saw Insua feed the ball into the path of the Spain international, who took on James Tomkins before surging into the penalty area and firing a sublime individual goal beyond Green at his near post.
 
If that was bad news for the home faithful, then it got worse five minutes later when skipper Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami were both forced off through injury.
 
With Torres in seemingly irrepressible form it looked like turning into a nightmare evening for the hosts, but a piece of wing wizardry just shy of the half hour mark gave them the opportunity to draw level.
 
Hines outpaced Carragher down the left-hand side and in his desperation to make amends the Reds' number 23 pulled the home-grown star to the floor resulting in a spot-kick to West Ham.
 
Up stepped Diamanti to scuff home the penalty and ruin Reina's hopes of marking his 150th league appearance for the club with a shut-out.
 
It was the type of goal that can so often change the complexion of a match, but credit to Benitez's men, they regained their composure and the lead three minutes before the interval.
 
A right-wing corner was headed goalwards by Gerrard, with Kuyt on hand to make sure it crossed the line at the far post.
 
The Reds were back in the driving seat but before the away support had a chance to digest the mechanics of the goal, the hosts ensured they would go in at half-time all-square when Cole flicked home a corner from the left.
 
The second period had a lot to live up to if it was to come anywhere near matching the first 45 and after conceding two goals apiece, it was almost predictable to see both sides make a more composed start.
 
In fact, there was little by way of goalmouth action until Benayoun threatened to score the type of goal Diego Maradona would have been proud of on 63 minutes.
 
The Israeli cut in from the left and jinked beyond several challenges, only to delay his shot and lose possession at the vital moment.
 
By now, Liverpool had re-asserted their dominance and continued to probe for the winner, although West Ham, and in particular Cole, remained dangerous on the counter-attack.
 
With time running out, Benitez introduced Ryan Babel as a substitute and it was his run and cross on 75 minutes that saw Torres rise above his marker to power a header into the bottom corner.
 
The hosts pushed for yet another equaliser late on, but this time the Reds' defence stood firm to secure our third league win on the spin.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Benayoun, Mascherano (captain), Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres. Subs - Babel, Degen, Dossena, Kyrgiakos, Cavalieri, Riera, Aurelio
 
West Ham United: Green, Ilunga, Tomkins, Upson (captain), Faubert, Hines, Parker, Behrami, Noble, Cole, Diamanti. Subs - Gabbidon, Kovac, Nouble, Payne, Kurucz, Spector, Dyer
 
Referee: Andre Marriner
 
Conditions: Warm
 
Attendance: 34658
 
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Fernando Torres