A walk-on part in last season's final defeat in Athens sowed much of the discontent that has surfaced following a season that has yielded just seven minutes of Premier League football and two starts in the qualifying stage of the Champions League. Against accommodating Toulouse he vented his annoyance by opening the scoring and sealing the tie against the French club to extend his European form to eight goals in 10 starts.
Though he squandered several opportunities to embellish that total there was no complaint from his manager. Given the manager's record of two European Cup finals in three seasons at Anfield, there must be a recognition in Crouch that further invitations to impress the Spaniard will arrive at this level. "You could see Crouch working really hard," said Benítez, who favoured record signing Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin at Sunderland on Saturday. "He scored a good goal and though he had three more chances to score it is important for the striker to be there. I think tonight will give him a lot more confidence now."
This was Liverpool's 50th European Cup win at Anfield, Sami Hyypia and a brace from Dirk Kuyt providing the home side with a comfortable passage at this stage of the competition and few have been as straightforward when so much has been at stake.
The occasion meant far more than the money and prestige that accompanies a place in the Champions League proper. Football rivalries were cast aside in honour of the 11-year-old Evertonian Rhys Jones, who was shot dead a week ago today in Croxteth Park. At the request of Liverpool supporters and following consultation between chief executive Rick Parry and the family of the murdered schoolboy, the Z-Cars theme synonymous with rivals Everton sounded for the first time inside this old stadium.
Rhys' parents, Stephen and Melanie, and brother Owen, put football into perspective as they stood on the touchline throughout an emotional tribute for the second time in four days, a visibly moved Benítez embracing Melanie Jones at its conclusion. This was a show of unity not seen between the city rivals since the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster.
"I would like to send my condolences to the Jones family and to Antonio Puerta and Sevilla football club," said Benítez.
On such a depressing foundation it was perhaps expecting too much of Liverpool to open with the flourish but, showing seven changes to the side that began at Sunderland, they confirmed they have the strength in depth to avoid unnecessary complications at this level.
Yossi Benayoun was presented with a rare chance to impress and the Israel international offered the intelligence and trickery of his finest outings for West Ham. He provided Liverpool with consistent width in tandem with debutant Sebastián Leto, the left-winger signed for £1.9m from Argentinean side Lanús this summer.
Crouch should have claimed the match-ball by half-time as he sent two glorious opportunities over with his head having opened the scoring from close range in the 19th minute. Toulouse almost pulled themselves back into the contest when defender Mauro Cetto headed a glorious chance wide of the Kop goal from a Paulo Cesar corner in the 34th minute. Four minutes after the restart Hyypia rose and headed a corner from Benayoun unopposed beyond the exposed Douchez.
It was hard not to feel sympathy for the Toulouse goalkeeper as his defence evaporated before his eyes in the closing stages and Kuyt helped himself to two predatory finishes. Toulouse could not even offer respectability to the scoreline. "We are improving all the time," warned Benítez ominously.