Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard tore Newcastle apart in a 3-0 win at Anfield that took Liverpool back into fourth in the Premier League.

The pair bagged a goal and an assist apiece, proving far too good for a dismal Newcastle side that fell further into relegation trouble.

Jermaine Pennant opened the scoring on 43 minutes with a bizarre fluke, before Gerrard fed Torres for the second just before half-time.

The Spaniard repaid the compliment early in the second half and both were taken off well before the end with an eye on Tuesday's Champions League visit to Internazionale.

Kevin Keegan arrived back on Tyneside famed for his motivational powers, but his side's confidence has hit rock bottom after collecting just three points from their last 36 available.

The opposite is true for Torres, who followed up two consecutive home hat-tricks with another superb performance and another goal. He now needs just one more to reach 20 in the league for the first time in his career.

Despite the midweek trip to Italy, Benitez chose not to rest his leading players. Javier Mascherano was the only notable absentee, replaced by Lucas, but his tenacity was hardly missed against a lightweight Newcastle central midfield featuring Charles N'Zogbia, more usually a wide player.

Liverpool started with no shortage of attacking intent, dominating territory and possession without seriously threatening Newcastle keeper Steve Harper - still covering for the injured Shay Given.

Torres sounded a warning on 11 minutes despite a lack of support in his lone striking role. He cut inside from the right, beat his man and fired just wide of the far post with no other Liverpool player within 10 yards.

Soon afterwards Gerrard tested Harper with a low, long-range effort that skidded off the wet surface, and shortly before the first goal had a penalty appeal turned down when he went down under the attention of Jose Enrique.

It did not matter, as Enrique shortly became the victim of freakish misfortune. His clearance from five yards out bounced off Pennant's heel and looped over Harper into the net.

If that goal was indicative of Newcastle's recent bad luck, the next two goals typified their defensive ineptitude.

In the first minute of injury time Gerrard played a low, diagonal ball in from the left side for Torres who dummied Harper - like Pele in 1970 - and slotted into the empty net.

The ease with which Liverpool dissected their opponents got even greater for the third goal six minutes into the second half.

Four Newcastle defenders might have tracked Steven Gerrard's run through the centre but none did, and he cantered onto Torres's through-ball to prod past Harper.

Michael Owen skippered the Magpies on his first appearance at Anfield since leaving Liverpool, but once again proved totally anonymous.

Only Keegan knows how he could be preferred to Obafemi Martins, who came off the bench and hit the bar with an outrageous 40-yard volley late on.

The home side produced almost nothing after Gerrard and Torres's withdrawal midway through the second half, but they did not have to.

Question marks remain over Liverpool's strength in depth, but when those two are playing so well, who cares?

Alex Chick / Eurosport