The pair quickly made up but that lack of cohesion, particularly concerning the final pass, consistently undermined their efforts to punch holes in a surprisingly well-drilled Portsmouth back line.

The manner in which Liverpool finally found a way through will have done little to quell the curiously growing band of critics that dismiss their fine start as purely ‘lucky’. But the Stoke game may have been different if Gerrard’s early free-kick had not been incorrectly disallowed. Swings and roundabouts, as they say.

After the exertions in ending Chelsea’s 86-game unbeaten record, it was perhaps inevitable that Benitez’s side were a little jaded last night.

And with the Spaniard making four changes from the team that won at Stamford Bridge, it was an opportunity for Liverpool’s fringe players to prove Benitez is right to insist his squad have the necessary strength in depth.

Their performances, though, were largely underwhelming. Lucas was neat and tidy in the first half before fading badly, while the recalled Jermaine Pennant and Ryan Babel were both infuriatingly inconsistent before being substituted.

Babel’s pace caused continued alarm for the visiting defence, typified by one incisive first-half run that saw him go beyond two Portsmouth players before being hounded out on the edge of the area.

But too often the young Dutch forward seemed reluctant to back himself in good positions. It’s a failing that Babel must address if he is to realise the high expectations of his manager.

Only Sami Hyypia, revelling at being restored at centre-back alongside Jamie Carragher to deal with height of the returning Peter Crouch, could feel satisfied at his evening’s work.

Buoyed by their historic weekend win, Liverpool started brightly before becoming ensnared in a midfield battle with obdurate opposition.

Kuyt, leading the line with Robbie Keane fit enough only for bench duty, came closer than anyone to scoring before the break when, in the 10th minute, Alvaro Arbeloa rolled the ball back into his path to strike an angled drive from 20 yards that Portsmouth goalkeeper David James palmed on to his right-hand post.

A minute later, Lucas should have done better when good movement in the area allowed him to meet Fabio Aurelio’s left-wing corner but the midfielder sent his header wastefully over.

When Gerrard, again operating behind the lone forward, had a free-kick charged down, Jamie Carragher thrashed a low shot from 30 yards that James did well to hold.

Kuyt then hit the side-netting, while Noe Pamarot was alert to hack away from the incoming Dutchman after James could only parry Gerrard’s cross-shot and Arbeloa, keen to augment the attack at every opportunity, curled an effort narrowly wide.

Diop had the visitors’ only decent first-half chance, nodding a Sean Davis cross straight at Pepe Reina when completely unmarked inside the area. It wasn’t the first time Diop would let Liverpool off the hook.

Benitez’s side were guilty of some chronic over-elaboration around the box when a good old fashioned shot would have sufficed.

Liverpool hit the woodwork for a second time in the 59th minute when Hyypia met Gerrard’s left-wing corner but his header struck the outside of the post.

Home frustration grew in the 73rd minute when substitute Yossi Benayoun raced on to Gerrard’s fine throughball but an unnecessary extra touch allowed Sylvain Distin to make an excellent sliding block challenge.

Aurelio then forced James to turn behind a piledriver from range and, from the Brazilian’s subsequent corner, Liverpool were gifted their winner when Bouba Diop, while challenging Hyypia for a header at the near post, bizarrely met the ball with both fists.

Gerrard kept his nerve to convert into the bottom corner despite James going the right way.

Nadir Belhadj’s left-wing cross caused hearts to flutter before a late cavalry charge from the visitors led to a nervy closing moments, although substitute Keane almost snatched a second with a late effort.

Benitez believes Liverpool must be “almost perfect” this season if they are to end their championship drought.

This performance may have been far from perfect. But the result was all that mattered.