In any case, had it not been for “Mr Inspiration”, Benitez would be waking to headlines of quite a different sort. After recent horrors, particularly away from home, Anfield craved a good day in the Premiership and only Gerrard was capable of delivering.

The captain roared in front of the Kop after scoring in the league for the first time in seven months and supporters reciprocated his outpouring of relief. They, too, had been steaming with frustration — only one quarter of the game was left and Manchester City were beginning to look the likelier winners, Liverpool leaden and lumpen.

As well as being decisive, Gerrard’s strike was delicious, a typical sledgehammer-strength shot from 20 yards after being set up by his team’s only other attacking player of dynamism and influence, Dirk Kuyt.

Kuyt slid in to win the ball and knock it to Gerrard in the same clever movement after Joey Barton undercooked his pass when trying to find Sylvain Distin.

Barton had hoped to upstage his former neighbour in Huyton but, as you can imagine always happened when they kicked a ball around the estate as kids, he ended up as the support act.

Gerrard made a case for continuing in his favoured role in central midfield, but Benitez will need to get more of his players firing if Liverpool are to make the most of their captain’s talent — whatever position he plays. Home form is keeping Liverpool afloat; City’s attempts to improve sink constantly outside Manchester. Theirs was a good performance, sound in defence and sparky on the break, but it was another bad day. The Premiership’s worst away record took a further dive, with 15 defeats from their past 18 games.

“You can’t afford to give Gerrard the ball 25 yards out with a written invitation on it,” a seething Stuart Pearce said. “All your hard work goes down the pan.”

Barton, seen arguing with Distin as they left the pitch, apologised to his teammates in the dressing-room. He had played well until his error and suffered the further ignominy of it coming in front of England head coach Steve McClaren.

If McClaren left unconvinced about Barton, he could at least savour another sight of Micah Richards. Coaches familiar with the youngster believe Richards, with his athleticism and ability on the ball, can develop from defender into a midfield player and it was there that Pearce deployed him in a five-man unit.

Richards made an impressive start in his new position, disciplined when Liverpool were in possession and using his powerful stride to get ahead of the ball when City countered.

When Claudio Reyna beat Boudewijn Zenden in a tackle, Richards thundered forward to receive Reyna’s pass and squared to Bernardo Corradi, who rolled his shot wide of the target.

With Luis Garcia dropping back, Liverpool also often had five in midfield and it was a pity that Ken Livingstone was not here to apply the congestion charge. Benitez’s men, despite much possession, found it difficult to play their way through to Kuyt and Peter Crouch, but only Kuyt and Gerrard provided off-the-ball movement; everyone else was static. Such clunking football is beginning to depress the Kop and chances arrived only as a result of City mistakes or when passes went long.

Jose Reina’s booming clearance surprised Richard Dunne, who fluffed his defensive header. Kuyt nodded to Crouch, but the striker’s attempted lob was clumsy. Sami Hyypia’s wonderful diagonal ball from halfway found Garcia stealing behind Nedum Onuoha, but the Spaniard delayed, then shot into the side-netting.

Even Kuyt and Gerrard were quelled for periods and Hyypia and Daniel Agger were playing Liverpool’s best football — fine for connoisseurs in search of the new Alan Hansen, but not ideal for a supposed title contender. Barton’s day could have been different if, after bursting past Zenden, he had not been tripped on the edge of the box by Steve Finnan only to be refused a free kick.

An outraged Pearce ranted at the fourth official before apologising and kissing him on the cheek.

Corradi volleyed close after Darius Vassell sprung on to Ben Thatcher’s pass and Richards caused trouble with another of his forward runs. It will have pleased Pearce that his team refused to go quietly, and City’s supporters also remained defiant although one of their songs — “You’re just a s*** Joey Barton” — directed earlier at Gerrard, was dropped from the repertoire.

Star Man: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

Scorer: Liverpool: Gerrard 67

Player Ratings: Liverpool: Reina 7, Carragher 6, Hyypia 7, Agger 8, Finnan 6, Gerrard 8, Zenden 5, Riise 6, Garcia 5 (Pennant 59min, 7), Crouch 5 (Fowler 65min, 6), Kuyt 8 (Bellamy 89min, 6)

Manchester City: Weaver 6, Onuoha 6 (Samaras 74min, 6), Dunne 6, Distin 6, Thatcher 7, Trabelsi 6 (Ireland 85min, 6), Barton 6, Reyna 7, Richards 7, Vassell 6, Corradi 5

Referee: R Styles Attendance: 44,081