It is easy to rave about a special relationship after this match. Not Kevin Keegan and Newcastle United, but the one developing between Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. After all Rafael Benítez’s experiments, his latest formula is obvious, really: create the conditions for your two best players to excel together.

On Saturday, Liverpool shielded the defence so that Gerrard did not have to worry about tracking back. Free to roam, he and Torres explored the extent of each other’s brilliance with the curiosity of great artists. “Gerrard has the same freedom he had when he was playing as a right winger,” the Liverpool manager said. “He enjoys this position because he can go forward without any problem because he has two players behind him. The understanding with Torres is really good and he knows when he goes forward he can find Torres. Defending, he only has to go back not 40 metres but ten, 15 metres, no more.”

Fabio Capello was at Anfield and must have been impressed, like one of his predecessors in the England manager’s job. “He is the sort of player who carries everything,” Keegan said. “He’s not just a good player, but he carries the burden of responsibility in other areas very well. I am a big fan.”

The Newcastle manager picked Gerrard for England when he was an injury-prone teenager. “I reached my peak at 27-28 and most people say that’s when you are at your best,” Keegan said. “Although he is outstanding at the moment, his best years are probably still to come.”

Of course, Keegan has never seen a vision of the future he did not like. “For the [Newcastle] fans at the moment it [success] might look a long way off, for the players it might and for the staff it might, but for me I can see it,” he said. “It seems a long way off at the moment, but football is a strange game. It takes time to get things right, but if you turn it round it can move at pace as well.”

Newcastle were made to look average by Liverpool. Some may say that this is progress. Three points above the relegation zone, they have not won in the league since December 15. Newcastle have conceded 23 goals in their past eight league matches. Results and concern at the Keegan “non-effect” give the impression that a full-blown panic is loitering with the intent to unleash itself on Tyneside, perhaps if Newcastle lose their next game, away to Birmingham City. But this was not a terrible performance; just a mediocre team short on confidence, beaten by a strong side who go into tomorrow’s Champions League game against Inter Milan in rampant goalscoring form.

Still, Newcastle are having the luck of the doomed. They were level until the 43rd minute, when José Enrique cleared the ball into Jermaine Pennant’s shins and it freakishly looped over Steve Harper, the goalkeeper. One reason teams shrivel when they concede is because they do not believe that they can equalise.

Michael Owen scurried to no discernible effect, faced by the withering indifference of the Kop who have a new, multifaceted, goalscorer to acclaim. Shortly before half-time, Torres put away Gerrard’s perfect pass and early in the second period he fed Gerrard for another neat goal, the cue for a couple of dozen away fans to make their exit. The rest stayed and chanted songs of gallows humour.

At Keegan’s return they revelled in hysterical happiness; now they seek refuge in ironical self-deprecation.

How they rated

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): J M Reina 6 Á Arbeloa 6 J Carragher 7 M Skrtel 7 J A Riise Y 6 X Alonso 7 Lucas Leiva 7 J Pennant 6 S Gerrard 8 Y Benayoun 6 F Torres 8 Substitutes: D Kuyt 6 (for Gerrard, 66min), P Crouch (for Torres, 72), S Hyypia (for Pennant, 78). Not used: C Itandje, R Babel. Next: Reading (h).

Newcastle United (4-4-2): S Harper 8 H Beye 5 S Taylor 5 A Faye 5 J Enrique 5 J Milner 5 A Smith 6 N Butt 6 C N’Zogbia 5 M Owen 5 D Duff 5 Substitutes: Gérémi 6 (for Milner, 44min), O Martins 8 (for Duff, 58) Not used: C Caçapa, F Forster, A Carroll. Next: Birmingham City (a).

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Roberto Mancini has warned Liverpool that Inter Milan can pull off a Champions League miracle in the San Siro tomorrow. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg of the first knockout round tie, Inter have bounced back by stretching their lead at the top of Serie A with a 2-0 win against Reggina on Saturday. “Liverpool did not create much in the first leg but kept us under pressure and unfortunately the last five minutes proved decisive,” Mancini said. “But I still think we can do it because any result is possible.”