Goals from Xabi Alonso and substitute Bolo Zenden, a veritable feast by Liverpool's recent standards, ensured a third league win of the season for Benitez's side. Yet the Spaniard is astute enough to know that, while this is a step in the right direction, the European Champions continue to look anything but.
Desperate for a win to revive confidence after the humbling Carling Cup exit at Crystal Palace in midweek, this performance will go some way towards deflecting the growing criticism that has been directed towards Benitez's side this season.
Many of the questions raised have focused on Liverpool's failings in front of goal. And while Fernando Morientes and Djibril Cisse battled gamely with little reward in attack, the fact it took two midfielders to conjure their biggest win of the Premiership season suggests a continuing problem Benitez has yet to resolve.
The manager, however, was in no mood for further soul-searching. 'I think the team played well,' he said.
'They were compact, organised and it's another clean sheet for us. We scored two goals. People were saying "you have to score goals", so we have done all the things that people wanted us to do.' In fact West Ham, apparently starstruck at facing the European champions, were extremely limited and the game should have been wrapped up long before Zenden settled nerves eight minutes from time.
Indeed, if it were not for the predictable excellence of Alonso and Steven Gerrard in midfield, this might have been an altogether more gloomy afternoon for Benitez.
Alonso capped a period of early pressure in the 18th minute with a fine, first-time strike from 20 yards - helped along by a deflection off Tomas Repka - after Nigel Reo-Coker had failed to clear Luis Garcia's corner.
With the visitors offering little by way of response, that should have provided a platform for Liverpool to add to their lead. However, chances were few and far between before Paul Konchesky was forced into a remarkable double goalline clearance 12 minutes after the break to deny first Sami Hyypia and then another ricochet off Repka.
Relief finally came when Zenden, after coming on for Cisse in the 73rd minute, ensured Liverpool were spared an anxious end to the game when he collected John Arne Riise's headed pass and sent a low shot beyond Shaka Hislop and inside the far post.