In injury time, Lampard did add the fifth, heading in after Drogba had nodded down Cole's high left-wing cross to give Chelsea the added bonus of drawing level on goal difference with Manchester United.
But Chelsea, who only remain top of the Premier League on goal difference following Manchester United's victory over Wigan, wasted at least five glorious chances before the break and that set the tone for a frustrating afternoon in the west Midlands.
Torres stuck the woodwork with a header before Hull's hopes were ended when Kuyt struck his second to briefly move Liverpool top on goal difference ahead of Manchester United's 5-2 victory over Tottenham.