A sublime first Liverpool hat trick from Luis Suarez earned Kenny Dalglish's side a 3-0 win over lackluster Norwich at Carrow Road.
The Canaries were architects of their own downfall in the first half, with first David Fox and then Elliott Ward caught in possession inside their own half within five minutes of each other and both punished by clinical finishes by the controversial Uruguay striker.
But there was nothing they could do in the 82nd minute when Suarez seized on a clearance on the halfway line and lofted the ball audaciously over stranded keeper John Ruddy from fully 45 yards for his third goal.
With next week's FA Cup final on the horizon, Reds boss Kenny Dalglish made five changes, one of which saw former Canaries striker Craig Bellamy face his old club. Red forward Andy Carroll was not in the squad.
Norwich are all but secure of a place in the top flight again next season.
Manager Paul Lambert also made five changes from the team beaten at Blackburn.
Captain Grant Holt dropped to the bench as Steve Morison led the attack.
Liverpool's early forays were thwarted as Jonjo Shelvey's curling through-ball was just too far ahead of Gerrard and Norwich keeper John Ruddy then slid out to beat Suarez to a similar pass.
A nondescript start saw the ball put out after Canaries full-back Adam Drury pulled up with a groin injury and headed straight down the tunnel, leaving his side momentarily down to 10 men.
They threatened as Anthony Pilkington's cross forced Jamie Carragher into a sliding clearance before substitute Russell Martin came on to return them to full strength.
The hosts had the support of shadow chancellor Ed Balls at Carrow Road and he had a dangerous free-kick to cheer after good work by Elliott Bennett, but Jose Reina claimed Fox's cross.
Suarez's cross was behind Stewart Downing, who failed to properly connect with an off-balance volley.
Daniel Agger was at full stretch to clear Martin's low cross but it was Liverpool who made the 24th-minute breakthrough courtesy of Suarez.
Gerrard was instrumental, winning possession from Fox in the Norwich half and steering the ball through to the Uruguay striker, who sidefooted past Ruddy.
Gerrard was denied a second when he raced on to Suarez's square pass but his drive at goal ricocheted wide off Ryan Bennett.
But Suarez brilliantly made it 2-0 in the 28th minute when Norwich again dawdled on the ball in their own half and he nicked it away from Ward, broke into the box and fired hard and low across Ruddy and inside the far post.
Suarez went down in the box having been held around the waist by Ward, but the contact began outside the box and referee Mark Halsey ignored Liverpool's claims in any case.
Ward was penalised five minutes later when he hacked down Suarez following more shambolic Norwich defending, Halsey this time producing a yellow card. Bellamy was unable to exact further punishment from the free-kick, blazing wildly over.
Howson followed Ward into the book after a cynical body-check on Gerrard halted a Liverpool break in stoppage time.
