WHO COULD doubt Steven Gerrard’s capacity to adapt to circumstances? Four days ago, he was charged with assault and affray, after an incident that left him “soul-searching” and “furious with himself”, it was said. Yesterday evening, like the human dynamo he is, Gerrard charged the Premier League leaders, empowering them to overcome as determined and resolute a Championship side as you are likely to find.

The visitors’ second goal, in stoppage time, said it all about an imperious exhibition. Gerrard broke away as the entire Preston side were caught upfield. Some would have seized the moment themselves. Instead the Liverpool captain bided his time for substitute Fernando Torres to catch him up before laying the ball wide for the striker to convert the chance.

Yes, it had been “difficult” for Gerrard, reflected Sammy Lee, standing in for Rafa Benitez, who was here, but is still recovering from an operation to remove kidney stones. “But he’s a terrifically tough professional, a model professional. A great servant to this club and a great ambassador.”

Earlier, six members of Lancashire constabulary had awaited Gerrard as he stepped off the team coach, though on this occasion it was to escort him safely the couple of yards to the visiting team’s door. Once he took to the field there were, of course, the obligatory jeers at his every touch, but Gerrard ignored those, as he asserted himself with typical tenacity and single-minded application. As Benitez promised, there was no question of the captain being asked to sit this one out. Certainly, getting straight back to the office was clearly the best option for Liverpool’s No 8 at the conclusion of a week in which he spent 20 hours in custody after his arrest in the early hours of Monday after an incident in a Southport bar.

The whole affair will have mystified many for whom their images of professional footballers tend to be polarised. They are either messiahs or very naughty boys. Gerrard has always verged on the former; as unlikely to be up before the magistrates, even if eventually he is found to be innocent, as his fellow Merseysider, Joey Barton, has of entering the priesthood. Whatever the outcome, privately there will be disquiet, even within his club, one suspects, about him even finding himself in such a situation.

Where the travelling faithful are concerned, of course, he can do no wrong. He rewarded them by playing a significant role in a Liverpool performance that went from strength to strength in the first half. They eventually seized the initiative but Robbie Keane spurned three invitations before the interval. Fortunately for the Republic of Ireland striker, Albert Riera was in a less charitable mood, venomously shooting Liverpool into the lead. Keane offered Riera the chance to put the game beyond their hosts approaching half-time but Andy Lonergan saved.

After the interval, a long-range Gerrard curler brought an acrobatic save from Lonergan but Preston were a team regalvanised. Alan Irvine’s team simply refused to play the patsies. Liverpool received a reminder that Cup progress was by no means certain when Sean St Leger headed an apparent equaliser, only for it to be ruled out because Jon Parkin was adjudged to have fouled Jamie Carragher, although television replays suggested that the Liverpool defender had fouled first.

Torres, out for over a month, replaced Keane for the final 15 minutes. But the action was principally at the other end — until Gerrard broke and Torres completed the scoring. Gerrard walked away, having vindicated his presence here. Now for the fourth round, though that is immediately preceded by a decidedly less welcome fixture — with North Sefton magistrates.

PRESTON: Lonergan 7, Jones 6, Mawene 6, St Ledger 7, Davidson 6 (Nolan 54min, 6) Sedgwick 6, Chaplow 7 (Nicholson 82min), McKenna 6, Wallace 7, Parkin 7, Mellor 6 (Elliott 62min)

LIVERPOOL: Cavalieri 7, Carragher 6, Hyypia 7, Agger 6, Insua 6, Alonso 7 (Lucas h-t, 6), Mascherano 7 (Aurelio 82min), Babel 6, Gerrard 8, Riera 7, Keane 5 (Torres 75min)