IT had to be Gerrard.

Just as Melbourne Victory threatened to make a match of this so-called friendly, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard glided into the penalty box to strike home a trademark goal.

It was the 32nd minute and if you were a punting type you would have been betting on more goals.

Instead it was almost the only goal -- an Iago Aspas tap-in with the last action of the game doubled the margin.

IncREDible 'You'll Never Walk Alone'

MCG becomes a sea of red

media_camera Steven Gerrard of Liverpool scores the Reds' first goal in Australia.

Ange `super proud' of Victory

A youthful and grossly undermanned Victory was far from embarrassed against the 18-time English champion.

Coach Ange Postecoglou this week urged his young players to create moments that could change the rest of their lives.

And in front of 95,446 fans -- a record crowd for a soccer match in Victoria and the biggest crowd ever to have watched Liverpool -- they did just that.

Connor Pain and Andrew Nabbout were constant threats on the left and right wings respectively; Jimmy Jeggo belied his years with a crafty performance in central midfield; and Victory's three outfield players aged over 21 -- Adrian Leijer, Leigh Broxham and Billy Celeski -- were a calming influence throughout.

But the crowd, awash with red, was there largely to see the Reds and a classic performance from their captain.

Gerrard fired a volley from 20m that forced Nathan Coe into a diving save in the 21st minute, moments after Nabbout had blasted a stinging shot from the top of the box that prompted Liverpool's Aussie keeper Brad Jones into action.

With both sides threatening, the friendly kind of felt like a serious match -- but was shown up for what it was a minute later when Gerrard and Nabbout clashed while attacking a lofted ball in midfield.

Gerrard is Nabbout's idol -- he has posters of him on his bedroom wall.

The England international, after copping the Nabbout contact, shot a dirty look back to the 20-year-old, who was very quick to say sorry to his hero not once, but twice.

media_camera Liverpool's Luis Suarez Victory's Connor Pain. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Gerrard gave him a cursory wave.

Nearly 10 minutes later Victory had three minutes of sustained possession in its front half.

For a moment you doubted which of the teams was the more experienced.

Then came the turnover. Then came Gerrard.

He started the move in midfield, letting the ball run under him and sucking the defender in as he advanced forward, before Joe Allen played an incisive ball into the penalty area, where Gerrard gave Coe absolutely no chance.

It was fitting that the goal came at the Punt Rd end -- or as it was last night, The Kop end.

He finished with a typical celebration too, arms aloft.

It was all the crowd needed really, particularly after the pre-match festivity, which was an event in itself.

The roar when the teams came out on to the MCG was deafening.

"LIIIIIVERPOOL, LIVERPOOOOOL" rang out from the stands as the white glow of flash lights from iPhones and cameras broke through the sea of red in the jam-packed stands.

media_camera Liverpools Jordan Ibe and Victory's Scott Galloway. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Anyone expecting a throng of Victory blue at match would have been left disappointed -- three bays of supporters at the bottom of the Ponsford Stand was the only colour contrast to be seen.

Then came a moment that was almost worth the price of admission itself: one of the most rousing renditions of Gerry and the Pacemakers' You'll Never Walk Alone you'll ever hear.

If you closed your eyes, it could have almost been Anfield, but then, it couldn't have been; Anfield holds barely 45,000, and there was double that in the stands last night.

Amid the hype it was easy to forget there was a game to be played.

And while the A-League All-Stars were tentative in the early stages against Manchester United on Saturday, it was clear from the outset that Victory's youngsters weren't taking a backwards step.

media_camera Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Victory's Jesse Makarounas. Picture: George Salpigtidis

The hosts started with possession and straight away Nabbout charged forward, joined by Pain who tried to force his way into the penalty area.

It was a sign from the outset of how this young side was going to attack the game.

Of course getting a positive result was always going to be a herculean task. But not one Victory player would have left the MCG last night disappointed in the performance.

Liverpool, meanwhile, will jet off to Thailand today for the last leg of its three-leg pre-season tour satisfied with what the four-day Melbourne venture had delivered in both a preparation and commercial sense.

Never, since it was founded in 1892, had Liverpool been to Australia.

If last night's magical occasion is anything to go by, we won't have to wait another lifetime to see the Reds again.

Re-live all the highlights, play-by-play, videos, photos and social media reaction with our blog from an enthralling match below.

Originally published as Stevie G leads Reds to victory