Liverpool maintained their unbeaten run at fortress Anfield despite missing a string of opportunities in the opening quarter of the game.
The fact that Charlton were not 3-0 behind by half-time was more to do with the inability of Liverpool's strikers to put the ball in the net than good defence.
Dean Kiely was forced to work hard as Liverpool quickly took control of possession with Luis Garcia firing a shot on goal which skidded just wide of the right-hand post within the opening 60 seconds.
John Arne Riise should have put the Reds in front less than a minute later but a feeble attempt towards the empty goal left the Liverpool fans frustrated.
A Luis Garcia corner in the eighth minute almost put Liverpool in front but it was kicked away from the goal by former Liverpool favourite Danny Murphy.
Two more easy chances for Liverpool to take the lead were wasted by Rafa Benitez's men, prompting boos from the increasingly restless Anfield crowd.
Djibril Cisse's 40-yard run straight down the centre of the pitch created an opening for Milan Baros but the Czech striker completely mishit his 20-yard strike and a grateful Kiely watched as the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Charlton made little impact in the first half and by the end of the 45 minutes a desperate Alan Curbishley disappeared to the relative safety of the directors box.
But the deadlock was broken ten minutes into the second half.
A Xabi Alonso header set up Riise whose 25-yard strike provided the Reds with a well-deserved first goal.
It was the Norwegian's first goal in over 60 games and left Kopites hoping his scoring drought was now over.
While Murphy had been given a warm reception by the fans of his old club, former Everton centre forward Francis Jeffers was not gifted the same reception.
He had replaced Dennis Rommedahl to bring some much-needed firepower to the despondent Charlton side, but only succeeded in getting himself booked for a vicious tackle on Jamie Carragher.
Steve Finnan wasted another opportunity to push Liverpool further ahead by kicking an excellent Baros cross straight at keeper Kiely.
But Liverpool managed to score a second goal midway through the second half.
A fluffed attempt by Baros landed at the feet of Luis Garcia who expertly buried the ball in the left-hand corner of Charlton's goal from 25 yards.
Substitutes Bryan Hughes and Jason Euell made little impact for the visitors who found themselves continually out-played and out-classed by the Reds.
Liverpool now move up to fifth place in the Barclays Premiership, and with performances like these, it will just be a matter of weeks before they are snapping at the heels of their third-placed Merseyside rivals Everton.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Xabi Alonso (Liverpool) - The Spaniard worked hard for 90 minutes providing excellent crosses and helping to set up an incredible goal for John Arne Riise.