Liverpool returned to winning ways but made hard
work of it at home to Wolves as defensive frailties
and equally-fragile confidence levels were almost exposed
for a third successive week.
• Jolly: Reds' reasons to be cheerful
Everything appeared to be going to plan as a Roger
Johnson own goal, diverting in Charlie Adam's shot,
and another magical Luis Suarez strike appeared to have
put the Reds in the comfort zone at half-time.
But substitute Steven Fletcher pulled one back within
minutes of the second half starting to ratchet up the
pressure on the hosts, who were guilty of missing a
number of opportunities to make the victory easier than
it turned out to be.
Having lost back-to-back matches at Stoke and Tottenham,
where they were humiliated 4-0, it was understandable
nerves would be shaky.
And with the Reds keen to avoid a third successive
defeat, which would have been their worst run since
2003, the pressure to secure a victory - especially
with the Merseyside derby and the visit of Manchester
United around the corner - was all-important.
What was equally key to Kenny Dalglish's side's fortunes
this season was captain Steven Gerrard making his first
Barclays Premier League appearance since March having
recovered from a groin operation.
Wolves had actually started the brighter, aided by
their hosts' penchant for conceding free-kicks outside
their own penalty area.
Their best chance fell to Jamie O'Hara when a ill-judged
backpass from Martin Kelly, returning to the side in
the absence of the injured Daniel Agger, saw the midfielder
shoot weakly at Jose Reina.
A couple of Adam corners caused some difficulties for
the Wolves defence but not as much as the midfielder's
11th-minute long-range shot.
Stewart Downing's lay-off saw the Scotland midfielder
unleash a 25-yard shot which was diverted past Wayne
Hennessey by Johnson's diving header.
Andy Carroll, still the subject of intense debate about
his place in the side, should have silenced his critics
with a free header from Downing's corner but planted
the ball straight at the goalkeeper.
In his favour, however, the England international's
performance offered plenty apart from a goal.
But it was Suarez who, once again, was providing the
major threat up front with the Wolves centre-backs struggling
to contain the Uruguay forward.
Johnson was left bewildered when Suarez brought down
Reina's kick and turned the defender inside the penalty
area only for his cross to be cut out.
Two further half-chances fell to the South American
before he finally got he just desserts in the 38th minute
with a goal which owed everything to his movement and
Jose Enrique's vision.
The Liverpool left-back lifted a ball over the top
of the defence and his team-mate timed his run perfectly
to collect, turn Christophe Berra inside then out before
firing a shot inside the near post.
Just before the break - during which the third biggest
cheer of the afternoon greeted news of former Reds striker
Fernando Torres' sending-off for Chelsea - Suarez poked
another shot just wide of the far post.
But Liverpool's defensive record this season - they
have kept only one clean sheet - meant the third goal
would be crucial and it fell to Wolves.
Four minutes after coming on for the start of the second
half boyhood Reds fan Fletcher smashed home a shot from
Stephen Hunt's cut-back after Reina and Martin Skrtel
had got in the way of each other trying to clear their
lines.
But Wolves almost crumbled in the aftermath as Hennessey
produced his most important save of the game to block
Suarez's effort at close quarters from Carroll's knockdown.
Carroll headed against a post while Hennessey made
yet another vital block to deny Downing, who should
have scored after Liverpool broke quickly on the counter-attack.
Wolves recovered their composure and turned the tables
with an extended spell of pressure which caused some
consternation amid the massed Red ranks and almost saw
Berra equalise with a far-post header.
The long-awaited appearance of Gerrard, who made a
brief substitute appearance in the Carling Cup in midweek,
finally arrived in the 81st minute when the England
midfielder replaced Suarez, who had run himself into
the ground.
When the ball dropped to the Reds captain 25 yards
out he did not need a second invitation to unleash a
dipping volley but there was no fairytale Anfield comeback
as the ball bounced wide.
There were a few worrying moments before the end but
Dalglish's side saw them out to get back on the winning
track.
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