The scoreline was emphatic and, with Dirk Kuyt scoring two late goals, all four of the manager's strikers are now off the mark this season, even if one of them, Peter Crouch, appeared uncertain when asked whether his first goal of the campaign would be enough to impress the demanding Spaniard.
It was Crouch, restricted to seven minutes of Barclays Premier League action so far this season, who started the ball rolling for Liverpool in the nineteenth minute, but he would not be indulging in false modesty if he suggested that he could have had a hat-trick. The suspicion remains that he has much to do to convince an unsympathetic judge in BenÍtez, and so the forward may feel that another goal or two would have given his manager more to think about as he ponders how to accommodate a strike force that includes Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin, both of whom were given the night off after their exploits in the 2-0 victory away to Sunderland on Saturday.
With a slip of the tongue afterwards, Crouch suggested that "it would be difficult" for BenÍtez to keep his four international strikers happy, adding that "as long as I get as many games as I would like, I will be happy." But, whatever black marks his manager might have against him, Crouch's goalscoring record in Europe is impressive.
He scored seven times in the Champions League last season and was a handful for a Toulouse defence that was ill-equipped to deal with the constant supply of crosses from Yossi Benayoun and Sebastian Leto, the young Argentine debutant. "It could have been one or two more goals," BenÍtez said of Crouch's performance. "But I could see Crouch and Kuyt working hard. For a striker, it is important to be there [in goalscoring positions]. I think he will have more confidence after tonight. My idea is to improve in every position and to have two players in every position playing well. Tonight you could see that. We can change in different positions and everything is good."
As an appraisal of the evening, it was spot on. In addition to Crouch and Kuyt, opportunity knocked for Benayoun, Leto and Lucas Leiva, the young Brazilian midfield player, who came on for his debut midway through the second half. Benayoun, who has yet to figure in three Premier League matches, made the strongest impression, setting up two goals, including one for Sami Hyypia, who was captain for the night in the absence of the injured Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.
The evening had begun on a sombre note as the red half of Merseyside paid tribute to Rhys Jones, the 11-year-old schoolboy who was shot dead in nearby Croxteth Park last week.
The boy's affections lay firmly on the other side of Stanley Park, but, as a relative observed, he would no doubt have smirked at the thought of his favourite song, the Z-Cars theme, which is synonymous with Everton, preceding a particularly poignant rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone on a European night at Anfield. His parents, Stephen and Melanie, certainly appeared to appreciate the gesture and the subsequent minute's applause before taking their seats in the directors' box, where Everton shirts, for once, were more than tolerated.
Perhaps distracted by the tributes, Liverpool made a strangely sloppy start, but, once Crouch had settled their nerves, sticking out a telescopic leg to convert a deep Kuyt cross, the contest was over. Hyypia headed the second goal four minutes into the second half after he was found unmarked by Benayoun's corner, and Kuyt, having missed as many chances as Crouch to that point, finally rose to the challenge in the closing stages.
The Dutchman hit the crossbar before scoring twice in the final four minutes, the first after a neat combination with Ryan Babel, the substitute, and the second after an enterprising run and pass from Benayoun.
All in all, a profitable evening, but, in the case of Crouch, not quite as profitable as he might have wished.