For me you've hit the nail on the head. At 3-1, we should have been looking to take the sting out of the game, but it was our captain who effectively set the tone. Just prior to their second, I was asking my old fella why Stevie was trying to play one-twos into the box instead of occupying the DM spaces. It was with a terribly sinking feeling that I saw the desperation to score again coming from our skipper, and I'm afraid to say that I would have preferred if Stevie had dropped back and marshaled the defence better at 3-1. That would have set a more cautious tone, and I don't think they'd have had as much joy as they did if we had.
I would also have preferred to see Agger coming on instead of Moses, but perhaps thats with the twenty twenty focus of hindsight. I just wouldn't have brought Moses on at all if it had been my decision. He's contributed very little this season, and continued that at Palace.
I have been arguing on twatter that certain "moves" or "deployments" appear to have become "unthinkables" for BR, and certainly for most supporters. For example, the notion that perhaps, especially at 1-3, Lucas should have been moved to DM, and either partner Gerrard in a 2-1 midfield, or switched with Gerrard in his earlier 'RM' position, seems (in retrospect) not to have even been entertained. I say this because I would bet the proverbial family farm that if Lucas were instructed by BR to 'fall back'/go to DM etc he would do so, no ifs, ands, or buts.
The question as to why Suarez was not substituted for by e.g. the 70th minute (for either an extra CB or, horror of horrors apparently, Aspas - fresh legs, etc) is also a telling one, for me. He was already booked for dissent. He was clearly not 100% anymore. If one relies on Suarez to call for his own substitution, then one will wait till the end of time. Together with the choice to have Coutinho come in at 0-3 in lieu of Sterling, the failure to substitute Suarez tells me, at least, that BR, whatever he claims to have said to the players at HT or from the sideline, had NO intention of 'consolidating' the win and 3 points.
What PoP has said is, in all likelihood, absolutely correct in general. I just don't think it applies to this particular game. Personally, I saw no evidence whatsoever of BR directing his players, those on the pitch or those he was bringing in as substitutes, to 'consolidate' the win and 3 points. I'm afraid BR was taken in by the traveling supporters' enthusiasm and the players inclination was to "attack, attack, attack" as well.
A bit of Rafa Benitez would not have hurt, I submit.