The one disappointment was that more fans were not present to see a promising European display. A modest gathering from Monte Carlo, scarcely two yacht-loads, added to the gaps on the Anfield Road End. The Kop, though, was in typically good voice, lauding the contributions of Gerrard, Cisse and Benitez's well-balanced Liverpool.
Before Cisse's spectacular 22nd-minute intervention, Benitez had been gesticulating towards the striker to bend his runs so as to avoid triggering Monaco's well-drilled offside trap. Few tactics, however studiously researched or applied, could have prevented the move that culminated in this thrilling finish from Cisse.
The pace of the attack was so good, the individual touches applied so assured that Monaco's defence was cut to pieces. A bewildering exchange of passes between Alonso, Garcia and Gerrard swept possession into the danger zone before Cisse drilled the ball past Flavio Roma in the Monaco goal.
This was the sort of football Liverpool fans crave: high on tempo and ambition, completely unfettered by fear. Monaco have lost substantial talents, attacking spirits like Jerome Rothen, Ludovic Giuly, Dado Prso and Fernando Morientes, but a defence obdurate enough to have reached last season's final was largely in place.
Sebastien Squillaci, Julien Rodriguez and Gael Givet simply could not live with this bolt of red lightning. Cisse offers such a useful "out" ball because of his speed. The man who helped bring him from Auxerre to Anfield, the deposed manager Gerard Houllier, could have been forgiven a rueful shake of his head as he sat amongst the Merseyside jewellery-rattlers last night.
With Sammy Lee, visiting on England scouting duty, also in the directors' box and Phil Thompson in the commentary box, it seemed as if last season's regime simply could not keep away. The culture, though, has definitely changed. Although lining up in a defensive-looking 4-4-1-1 mode, Benitez's Liverpool betrayed few inhibitions.
Inevitably Gerrard, a captain leading by example, was at the heart of much that was good about Liverpool, even placing a wonderful ball just before half-time onto Garcia's head. Roma somehow managed to scramble the ball away.
Garcia, the £6 million recruit from Barcelona, was again a box of tricks, again mixing invention and industry in the hole position just behind Cisse. Alonso, neat and tidy, can replicate some of Gerrard's movements and passing range but does allow the England midfielder to roam upfield.
The old and the new of Liverpool combined just before the hour-mark to bring Anfield to its feet again. Gerrard and Alonso worked a free-kick to John Arne Riise, whose shot cannoned into the massed ranks of Monaco's defence. Moments later, the blend of established and incomer again conjured up thoughts of a second. Garcia and Harry Kewell released Cisse, who opted for power rather than placement and shot straight at Roma.
Nerves briefly afflicted Liverpool late on, Dudek failing to command his box and leaving Jamie Carragher to make a hurried, headed clearance. The Pole then redeemed himself with a smart save from Emmanuel Adebayor. The Kop urged Liverpool forward, exhorted them to shake off this momentary cloak of complacency, and Alonso responded well, clipping the ball intelligently wide to release Kewell and then Steve Finnan but the surges came to little.
Any doubts swirling around Anfield should have been dispelled with 10 minutes when Liverpool launched another sudden attack. Gerrard drilled the ball from left to right, Finnan headed down to the unmarked Garcia, who slipped a left-footed volley horribly wide.
Any anxiety disappeared with six minutes remaining. Josemi lifted a long ball through to Baros, who suddenly metamorphosed into his Euro 2004 persona. Bringing the ball down on his chest, the Czech Republic international glided around two attempted challenges, dummied to shoot with his right before transferring the ball on to his left and placing the most confident of shots into the net. Baros almost added a third but the visiting keeper saved. Milan against Roma, Liverpool against Monaco: it really was a European night at Anfield.