Jermaine Pennant was a constant menace on the right flank while Lucas and Daniel Agger produced assured performances to give Benitez a selection poser for the Merseyside derby at the weekend.

Agger gave Liverpool a 15th-minute lead from a free-kick before Michael O'Connor's equaliser 10 minutes later after goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri blocked Calvin Zola's header from Billy Jones' corner.

Pennant supplied the cross for Liverpool's second goal, headed home by Lucas in the 58th minute, but the margin of the victory over the Coca-Cola League One side should have been greater.

"It was one of those types of games where if you do not score the third goal and finish the game then it can be difficult," he said.

"We were a little bit nervous today and we certainly had enough chances to score a third goal.

"Tonight we can talk about two good goals - Daniel Agger's free-kick was a fantastic strike and also Lucas is a player that likes to get into the box and I am confident he can score more goals like this.

"It was a very positive result and a positive reaction from the players and perhaps the only thing is that we could not score the third goal."

Benitez explained the decision to introduce Fernando Torres in the second half despite the Merseyside derby at the weekend.

The Spain international had an immediate impact and was twice denied by Crewe goalkeeper Steve Collis.

Benitez added: "We brought Torres on to try and score the third goal - every competition is important so we were trying to create more chances.

"So going forward Torres would give us more space and you could see he had two chances to score which if they would have gone in would have sealed the game.

"I was thinking the same with Robbie Keane but we had a problem with Philipp Degen so I was not able to put him on earlier to put him in a position to score."

Crewe first team coach Steve Holland was proud of the way his side acquitted themselves and said a trip to Anfield last week helped settled any pre-match nerves.

"I brought the players to Anfield to do the stadium tour last week so they were not overawed by the whole experience of playing here," he said.

"Admittedly there was a mass brawl to get Fernando Torres' shirt afterwards but overall I think they didn't show any signs of nerves on the night.

"We acquitted ourselves well - we stuck to our game plan and could have even have nicked an equaliser at the end with a couple of late chances."