Benitez had called for more from his wingers before the game, and Pennant responded by jinking his way to the byline and delivering a cross a stretching Gonzalez headed wide.

Sadly, it was an all-too-rare occurrence as Pennant, so underwhelming at the weekend, again struggled to make an impression on either flank before also leaving the field on a stretcher with 11 minutes remaining.

By contrast, Gerrard was the driving force behind Liverpool's efforts from central midfield, floating an inviting low ball in from the right that Crouch would have reached had he been more positive in anticipating the pass.

The striker then repaid the compliment when, although falling on his backside, he managed to feed Gerrard who lashed a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

Bolo Zenden, Alonso's replacement and appearing against one of his former clubs for the second time in a week, tested the underworked PSV goalkeeper Gomes with a fierce 20-yard drive before Crouch nodded a Steve Finnan cross wide on the stroke of half-time.

PSV's only real first-half threat came six minutes before the interval when Finnan made a crucial challenge on Arouna Kone inside the area after the Ivory Coast striker had neatly sidestepped Jamie Carragher.

Not surprisingly, the injuries affected Liverpool's rhythm and they lost their way at the start of the second half, PSV full-back Carlos Salcido causing a minor scare with a deflected shot from range that looped on to the roof of Pepe Reina's net.

But just when it seemed Liverpool had ran out of ideas, up stepped Gerrard to fire them ahead on 65 minutes. Originating from quick-thinking by Reina, it was a well-worked goal, too, Finnan finding Kuyt who, after turning Brazilian centre-back Alex, fed a pass into the path of the incoming Gerrard to race on and lash the ball underneath Gomes.

PSV sought a quick response and, after Jefferson Farfan lashed an ambitious effort well wide, Reina did well to hold on to a deflected Kone drive.

Liverpool, though, made the game safe a minute from time when a fine run from Zenden ended with a pass to Garcia on the left, whose cross was headed across goal by Kuyt for Crouch to nod home from inside the six-yard box.

Reina made a fine late stop in injury time after John Arne Riise's slip had let in substitute Diego Tardelli to preserve Liverpool's second clean sheet inside five days.

Benitez will now no doubt take the opportunity to give a number of youngsters and fringe players some European experience in the now meaningless fixture in Turkey in a fortnight.

Given his fortune with injuries at present, the Spaniard won't want to take any chances with those first-team players left available.

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant (Bellamy 78), Gerrard, Alonso (Zenden 21), Gonzalez (Luis Garcia 36), Crouch, Kuyt. Subs: Dudek, Hyypia, Fowler, Paletta.

PSV EINDHOVEN (4-5-1): Gomes, Kromkamp, Da Costa, Alex, Salcido, Mendez (Beerens 81), Simons, Feher (Tardelli 68), Afellay, Farfan, Kone. Subs: Moens, Reiziger, Cocu, Addo, Lamey.

REFEREE: Domenico Messina (Italy).

ATT: 41,948.

NEXT GAME: Liverpool v Man City, Premiership, Saturday, kick-off 3pm