Gerrard, a representative of the “08 Ambassador Programme” provided a worse role model for Scousers than did Harry Enfield dressed up in his shell suit, false moustache and curly “Terry McDermott” wig. The Liverpool captain set the tone for one of the most fractious derbies of modern times when he was sent off after receiving two brainless bookings in 35 mad seconds, after just 18 minutes' play.
It did not help that Phil Dowd, the referee, seemed as well-disposed towards Merseysiders as Boris Johnson, flourishing 11 bookings (including Gerrard's two) and issuing Andy van der Meyde with a straight red. But there was no disguising the petulance and bad temper that engorged a game of otherwise ordinary qualities.
Everton face an FA hearing after accruing seven cautions, and a red card, in a single game but long after the crime count is forgotten, supporters will remember the scoreline.
Everton were clinging on for the interval long before the perpetually unfortunate Phil Neville scored an own goal in first-half stoppage time and, two minutes after supposedly regrouping during the break, they conceded to Luis Garcia. Then, when Tim Cahill's header raised their hopes, Van der Meyde promptly dashed them by catching Xabi Alonso in the face with a raised elbow.
Dowd banished him for violent conduct, but replays showed Van der Meyde kept his eyes fixed on the ball, suggesting that contact might have been accidental.
Harry Kewell went on to garnish his side's revival and it was entirely appropriate that the gorgeous strike that settled the match was celebrated by the player banging his arms together then throwing them open to depict an explosion. It was an incendiary occasion, peppery from the moment that Kevin Kilbane and Steve Finnan competed for the first 50-50 and sent one another sailing through the air. Cahill, always a safe bet, was the first to be booked when he caught Gerrard late.
Alonso, on the edge of his area, produced an equally poor challenge on Kilbane but escaped sanction, only for Gerrard to boot the ball towards the Kop disgustedly when Dowd awarded the free kick. He was booked and lectured. The plan was to auction Gerrard's No 08 for charity but you would have bid more than a penny to know what thoughts led him to steam out of his box and send studs slicing into Kilbane's ankles after the set-piece was charged down.
Wearily, Dowd produced a second yellow card and then a red and Gerrard threw his armband in the mud and stomped off to the dressing-room. Benitez, hands in pockets, glowered at his captain with Latin intensity. “He's apologised to the players. He knows he created a difficult situation for his team,” Benitez said. “He's a player with a lot of passion and he gives us a lot, but in games like these you need to be calm.”
The last time Everton won at Anfield, in 1999, Gerrard was also red-carded and a repeat of history seemed likely. Liverpool started woodenly, their opponents with greater subtlety and precision. Leon Osman's talent was embarrassing John Arne Riise and Cahill's late movement causing havoc. The Australian turned on a chance six yards out but Alonso got a foot in and took the pace off his shot. Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia lost out to Beattie and Cahill was clear again, but volleyed into the side-netting.
After losing Gerrard, Liverpool focused their attack on Peter Crouch, who won a series of free kicks and allowed them to play in Everton's half despite their numerical disadvantage. The panic caused by Crouch at a previous corner might have been a factor when Alonso sent a pacy, dipping delivery to the near post. With Luis Garcia arriving behind him, Neville was under pressure and his sliced header left Richard Wright helpless.
If Gerrard is Liverpool's heart, they still had Carragher, the brains of the operation, and when Jose Reina lined up a goal kick, Carragher pointed to Crouch and the Spaniard launched the ball 70 yards right on to his striker's head. Crouch beat Alan Stubbs to flick on and Luis Garcia, delicately, lobbed Gary Naysmith before an even more exquisite touch sent the ball spooning over Wright into the net.
Cahill, arriving late at a corner to head past Reina, raised more questions about Benitez's zonal marking, but Kewell had his manager beaming when he accepted Finnan's pass and from 20 yards imparted deliberate slice to arc a shot away from Wright and into the top corner.
The other bookings? Bad tackling by Alonso, Neville, Kilbane and David Weir was punished and so, too, some Duncan Ferguson thuggery, but Stubbs and Kewell were cautioned for no more than a jostle and Tony Hibbert's offence was routine. “There was some fussy refereeing,” said Moyes. He can tell that to the FA.