Steven Gerrard carried Liverpool through much of last season almost single handedly and he continues to accept the responsibility of plugging the gaps and chasing lost causes, as well as providing the sublime and the inspirational.
The Liverpool captain scored the opening goal and sent Luis Garcia on his way for the third before leaving the pitch to a thunderous ovation after 65 minutes.
He had seemed to be indicating a groin strain, although Benitez was adamant he had no such problem and would be available for the Champions League match against Monaco on Wednesday. Monaco, Manchester United and many more will represent the kind of strenuous test Albion were incapable of mustering. Despite recent recruitments, Albion still look short of the quality they will need to survive and enjoy successive seasons in the Premiership.
Gerrard will be crucial to Liverpool's ambitions at home and abroad, but then the club will be aware they have to convince him he can find fulfilment right here. Whatever the truth behind Real Madrid's reported interest, there would be no shortage of takers for Gerrard's immense talent should he eventually decide to move out of town.
Benitez for one, believes we have yet to see the best of Gerrard. The Liverpool manager said: "He will improve. He can become an even better player.
"He's intelligent and wants to learn. He tried today to play with more intelligence, understanding he does not have to run all the time. Some times it's good for a player to come off and hear the applause from the supporters. He does not have a problem."
The same can scarcely be said for Albion. Gary Megson, their manager, reasoned that it would have been unfair to play his new £3m striker, Robert Earnshaw from the start and gleaned encouragement from the Welshman's belated contribution.
Megson said: "We've learned that we mustn't show as much respect as we did today. I felt we were in awe of them a bit. Their second goal took the wind out of our sails."
Megson's team were in retreat from the start, uncomfortably repelling the endeavours of Djibril Cisse. However, they had no answer to the insurgence of Gerrard, who forced the breakthrough after 16 minutes.
The England player had lost his footing in an earlier offensive and this time it seemed a chance had again gone when he failed to gather in Garcia's return pass at the first attempt. To Gerrard's pleasant surprise, Albion gave him time and space for a second chance, which he took with an assured low shot wide of Russell Hoult.
Steve Finnan, constantly available on the right, meandered his way into Albion's area to despatch Liverpool's second, in the 42nd minute.
The final destruction was complete on the hour, when Gerrard's incisive pass invited Garcia to cut in from the left. Hoult beat out the initial shot, but the little Spaniard was alert enough to seize on the rebound and drill the ball firmly below the goalkeeper's body.
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