Gerrard, returned to his preferred position in the centre of midfield in place of the suspended Momo Sissoko, gave a man of the match performance as the Reds ensured it was an unhappy return to Anfield for Michael Owen.
The Reds showed no signs of fatigue after their trip to Japan when they tore into Newcastle right from the start. Fernando Morientes and Harry Kewell both had chances to open the scoring before Gerrard hammered the ball home on the quarter hour mark.
Luis Garcia crossed the ball in from the right and it was headed into the path of Steven Gerrard by the impressive Peter Crouch. Gerrard's powerful drive gave Shay Given no chance and it was 1-0 to the Champions of Europe.
Kewell picked out Crouch at the far post just before half time and the England international's header hit the post and then rolled over the line despite Given's best efforts to keep it out.
Liverpool had chances to score further goals in the second half but after Lee Bowyer was sent off for an awful challenge on Xabi Alonso, Rafa Benitez used the extra man advantage to make three subsitutions and rest some of his players ahead of tomorrow's Merseyside derby.