For much of the week, the talk around Anfield had centred on the 6ft 7in striker, still seeking his first goal in Liverpool colours, 14 club games after arriving from Southampton in the summer. Add four England appearances into the equation and Crouch's goal drought has become a major issue for a £7 million centre-forward.
Twice inside the opening 22 minutes he was presented with glorious opportunities to end that barren run. After 11 minutes, he appeared on the end of a perfectly judged right-wing corner from Steven Gerrard and, unmarked on the six-yard line, he headed the ball directly at keeper Jamie Ashdown, who kept it out with a one-handed save.
More alarmingly, midway through the first period referee Peter Walton correctly awarded Liverpool a penalty after Andy Griffin impeded Boudewijn Zenden with an unnecessary two-handed shove. After deliberation among the home team, and to the delight of the Kop, Crouch stepped up to take the spot-kick. But Ashdown made a superb dive to his right to save. Unfortunately for him, Zenden arrived at pace to head in the rebound.
Ashdown was soon in action again to save brilliantly from a Fernando Morientes header, while the closest the visiting team came even to threatening the home goal was an unsuccessful penalty appeal after John Viafara claimed he had been impeded by Jamie Carragher.
By the time Liverpool's second goal came along, six minutes before the interval, the outcome appeared a foregone conclusion, even allowing for the freak value of Djibril Cisse's effort. The Liverpool striker, having collected a pass from Dietmar Hamann wide on the right, swung over a cross that curled viciously and looped over Ashdown and in at the far post.
The opening stages of the second half brought no change in Crouch's inability to find the net against a poor Pompey. After 53 minutes, the England striker had a shot blocked by Griffin and the ball rebounded to Morientes, whose cross was tantalisingly close to being turned in by Crouch. A minute later, Crouch was played in by Morientes' back-heel, but he shot straight at Ashdown.
With his next chance, Crouch tried an audacious chip from the edge of the area that missed by perhaps three times his own height.
The rout was completed when Morientes hooked in a loose ball after an untidy goalmouth scramble.