Fans rise to Rafa as Gerrard has a field day against Luton

In times that could hardly be more testing for the 47-year old Spaniard, after learning his job had been touted round southern California only a couple of months ago, what more reassuring sight than Gerrard dismantling an opposing defence with a ruthless efficiency few midfielders could hope to match.

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Opening the floodgates: Ryan Babel celebrates scoring Liverpool's opening goal

Benitez always knew he could count on the vociferous backing of an Anfield full house and so it proved, as his name rang out before during and even a few minutes after this FA Cup third-round replay.

The same passionate response from his players was always likely to carry more weight in his ongoing and increasingly public dispute with owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, and Gerrard made sure it was just as forthcoming after Luton had threatened a major upset with a show of defiance that only faltered in first-half injury-time.

There may have been little input from the Liverpool skipper as the deadlock was finally broken by an unerring low drive from Ryan Babel but he was at the heart of everything else as Luton were ultimately swept aside by the first Cup treble by an Anfield player since Stan Collymore put Rochdale to the sword in 1996.

Further potential embarrassment will have to be avoided when Havant and Waterlooville or Swansea come calling in the fourth round but for now all that matters to the beleaguered Benitez is that he has cause to smile again after being stunned by Hicks's admission that Jurgen Klinsmann had been approached about becoming Liverpool's next manager.

Questions about Hicks's astonishingly frank account of talks with Klinsmann at the American co-owner's south California holiday home were met with the straightest of bats by Benitez but there was still a surprisingly relaxed look about him as he reflected on a level of support he made a point of acknowledging at the end.

"I couldn't have asked for more," he said. "A hat-trick from Stevie, Jamie Carragher's 500th appearance and we send the fans home happy with five goals. It was a good night and all I want to do is enjoy it."

No one could deny him his moment, even if a patched-up Luton had done their utmost to thwart Liverpool with defensive heroics which, allied to some wayward finishing, kept the game scoreless with half-time approaching.

Finally, Babel, who had squandered one clear opening and hit the post with another, found his touch by steadying himself after being sent clear by Fernando Torres and drilling a low shot beyond Dean Brill.

Benitez sensed there would be no way back for a Luton side without a recognised centre half and so it proved as two more goals followed in the space of five minutes at the start of the second half.

Gerrard applied a stooping close-range finish to Peter Crouch's far-post header from Jermaine Pennant's 52nd-minute cross and Sami Hyypia rose highest to glance a corner from the unstoppable Liverpool skipper in off a post.

The range of Gerrard's finishing came to the fore as he hit Luton with two more goals in the 64th and 72nd minutes. A precise sidefoot shot found the bottom corner, after a Torres shot had been blocked, while a trademark 30-yard piledriver completed the rout and gave him a hat-trick in the space of just 19 minutes.

It extended the England midfielder's tally for the season to 15, a remarkable return for a player in his position, and took him to within two goals of leading scorer Torres, the other Liverpool player with the quality to deliver on the scale needed to prolong Benitez's Anfield stay.

While Benitez continues to fight for a future at Liverpool, opposite number Kevin Blackwell was hardly any more enamoured with the treatment dished out to him during Luton's latest desperate battle to stay afloat.

Even news that a consortium led by BBC presenter Nick Owen had been given the go-ahead to take control left him shaking his head in bewilderment as he said: "I heard that from some BBC reporter before the game. You'd have thought I might have been told by people within the club but no. It would have been nice if they'd told the players they might get some wages after this but they don't seem to think that's important.

"The club have gone into administration three times in eight years, which is nothing short of disgraceful. It angers me when players are sold without your knowledge or valued without any consultation but you have to put up with these things.

"I just hope people will see the incredible backing we've had from 6,000 supporters tonight and the fantastic effort from the players, and realise Luton are worth investing in."

Liverpool: Itandje, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Pennant, Alonso, Gerrard, Babel, Crouch, Torres. Subs: Martin, Kewell, Aurelio, Kuyt, Lucas.

Luton: Brill, Jackson, Hutchison, Keane, Goodall, Bell, Robinson, Spring, Currie, Andrew, Talbot. Subs: Parkin, O'Leary, Emanuel, McVeigh, Furlong.

Man of the match: Steven Gerrard

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)