But when Rafael Benitez beckoned him to finish early here, Gerrard looked relaxed. Seventeen minutes remained in the match but competitiveness had long since knocked-off early for the day.
Sheffield United, so out of character for a Neil Warnock team, proved a meek, even passive foe and Liverpool compiled a fat scoreline without exerting themselves. Not only could Benitez withdraw Gerrard to conserve his energies but there was also the rare sight of him substituting Jamie Carragher for similar reasons. This after already resting seven of his starting line up from the triumph in Barcelona. That city has its Ramblas. This, for Liverpool, was more of a gentle ramble.
Gerrard departed after scoring the last - and best - of the four goals. On his debut, Javier Mascherano oozed pedigree and a fine pass by the Argentinian was turned cleverly into Gerrard's path by Robbie Fowler. A slight feint from Gerrard made Chris Morgan commit himself and, freeing himself with a sidestep, Gerrard angled a shot past Paddy Kenny from 15 yards. Fowler was repaying earlier favours.
Sheffield United and their fans would have it that the referee Steve Bennett, gifted Liverpool two penalties in the opening 25 minutes. The first was the most contentious but also the most avoidable. As Mark Gonzalez prepared to take a corner, Rob Kozluk shaped to block off Gerrard and Bennett held up play to lecture the defender about the consequences of fulfilling his intentions. Then, when Gonzalez swung the ball in, Kozluk put his arm across Gerrard, unabashed.
Liverpool's captain rather swooned as soon as there was contact but Kozluk had been warned and Bennett, with the resigned air of a weary schoolteacher, gestured to the spot. There was a long wait while Peter Crouch was substituted after a facial gash sustained when he was caught by Rob Hulse's boot. Fowler is too savvy to be bothered by such things and resumed play by angling his penalty past Paddy Kenny in front of the Kop.
Warnock was livid at the referee. "I said to Bennett 50% of refs would have given that penalty and 50% would not. If Bennett knew a bit more about the game rather than just knowing the rules inside out, he could be a really good referee."
Soon Fowler was back on the spot. Jermaine Pennant chased down Steve Finnan's pass and won a throw in at which Sheffield United defenders got in each other's way and Dirk Kuyt nodded the ball down to Gerrard, whose control and pace were prodigious as he broke toward Kenny. Like an arresting police officer, Nick Montgomery put both hands on Gerrard's shoulder to stop his progress. The captain, again a little easily, went down, but it was another penalty.
Fowler gulled Kenny into thinking he would take an identical spot kick and, after the goalkeeper committed himself one way, caressed a shot into the opposite corner of the net.
Warnock offered his own verdict on Kozluk by selecting the left back as the defender to be removed when he sent on Colin Kazim-Richards to try and get back in the game but apart from the odd difficulty posed by Hulse the threat to Liverpool was mild. It was turning out a fine day for the South Americans.
Keeping passes simple and his movements economical Mascherano held the midfield with increasing authority and Gonzalez singed Sheffield United with his pace on the left. Early on, the Chilean flashed on to Sami Hyypia's long pass, took it down off his chest but poked it over as Kenny came out quickly. On half-time Gonzalez took John Arne Riise's knock down and stung Kenny's palms with a volley.
Twice, with his clever lay-offs, Kuyt teed up Gerrard who mis-controlled on one occasion and shot wide on the other.
Gerrard probably would have scored had Fowler left him the ball rather than going for his hat-trick when Pennant crossed. But Gerrard got his goal eventually and Sheffield United were so generous there was even one for Hyypia who, after the ball reared off Morgan's chest at a corner, drilled it home.
Star man: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)