Liverpool's worst start to a season for more than 50 years left the club in the relegation zone last month, but three straight wins have lifted the 18-time champions to ninth.
"We weren't good enough at the start of the season," Torres said. "But we thought from the beginning we needed time to work with a new manager and new players.
"Now we have to show against the teams in the middle of the table, or teams who are not as good as Chelsea, we can play this way — with this intensity and quality."
After the second loss of its title defense, Chelsea is two points ahead of Manchester United and five ahead of third-placed Arsenal, which lost 1-0 to Newcastle.
Manchester City joined Arsenal on 20 points after Mario Balotelli scored twice in a 2-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion that ended his team's three-match losing streak in all competitions.
On Saturday, Park Ji-sung's double gave Manchester United a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton.
