The ideal way, then, for Benitez to commemorate his 250th game in charge. Certainly, this was as straightforward as Champions League wins come.

Liverpool have evidently heeded the warnings of last year when a poor start to their European campaign required a rescue act that ultimately had a debilitating effect on their domestic ambitions.

Indeed, with Atletico Madrid having beaten Marseille in the night’s other Group D game, it’s likely only two more victories will be required to ensure progress to the knockout stages.

Keane had been a member of the Spurs team that were eliminated by PSV in the UEFA Cup last season. But from the instant Dirk Kuyt gave the home side a fourth-minute lead with their 100th European goal under Benitez, Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the campaign was never threatened.

Underlining the familiarity that the Champions League breeds under its current format, this was the fifth time the sides had met in the last three seasons, with Liverpool having won three of the previous four encounters without conceding a goal.

There was also another landmark last night for Jamie Carragher, whose outing was his 534th of his Anfield career to move him into the top 10 of all-time appearances for Liverpool alongside Billy Liddell.

Confidence high after the weekend defeat of Everton, Benitez made just the one change with Fabio Aurelio replacing the benched Andrea Dossena.

Having seen his team thumped 3-0 at home by Atletico Madrid in their opening group game, PSV coach Huub Stevens threw five across a defence in an attempt to stifle the hosts.

That tactic worked for all of four minutes as Benitez’s side went ahead from, of all things, a corner.

It was poor marking from PSV’s Jeremie Brechet, brought into the side specifically to shore up the defence, who allowed Torres a free header from Gerrard’s right-wing delivery that was brilliantly parried by Isaksson.

But the keeper, though partially unsighted by Dirk Marcellis, should then have done better with Kuyt’s follow-up which flew into the top corner off his leg.

Kuyt, a former Feyenoord player clearly revelling against his old Dutch adversaries, has now scored 10 goals in his last 17 Champions League appearances.

Keane could have been awarded a penalty when, accepting Albert Riera’s pass inside the area, his standing leg was caught by Carlos Salcido. Perhaps it was typical of the Irishman’s luck that referee Felix Brych, officiating his first Champions League match, waved away his appeals. But his time would soon arrive.

Torres then again exposed Brechet’s excuse for marking, sending a free header wide from Aurelio’s left-wing corner.

Enter Keane. Kuyt, busying himself as ever, slipped the ball wide to Torres, whose clever turn lost Salcido and allowed space to curl in a low cross that Keane, moving away from Dirk Marcellis, met with a swivelled volley.

The hapless Brechet was sacrificed at half-time as PSV sought a more attacking approach. And while the visitors enjoyed greater possession after the break, there was little threat other than the ambitious shooting of Nordin Amrabat.

PSV right-back Jan Kromkamp, who had a brief spell at Anfield in 2006, must have thought he was still playing for Liverpool when his woeful backpass put Torres clear midway through the second half. But the Spaniard, who spent much of the evening struggling to keep his footing, clipped his shot wide.

Torres was on the deck again on 76 minutes, this time having been felled by Dirk Marcellis 25 yards out. And PSV were made to pay for that indiscretion, Aurelio rolling the free-kick to Gerrard who thrashed a rising drive past Isaksson and set off in celebration.

It’s worth noting that under the tutelage of Gerard Houllier, Gerrard netted 28 goals in 240 appearances. Since Benitez has assumed charge, the next 72 strikes have come in just 208.

Liverpool had become increasingly lackadaisical in their play during the second half, and that complacency ultimately cost them a goal two minutes later when substitute Danny Koevermans nipped in ahead of Martin Skrtel to score.

That, though, couldn’t take the shine off a momentous night for Gerrard and Keane.