Premier League: Liverpool 2-0 Wolves

The second twofootedtackle Premier League match report of the day comes from Anfield, where Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez dropped Dirk Kuyt and gave starts to Alberto Aquilani and Yossi Benayoun to replace the Dutchman and suspended midfielder Javier Macherano. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres also made the starting eleven. Mick McCarthy opted for a strong line-up against the Reds and set Wolverhampton Wanderers up to make a real fist of their Boxing Day match.

The home side are under massive pressure at the moment and will be delighted with a 2-0 win, though it was far from convincing for the first hour. Overall, the game was absorbing. But it was spoiled to some extent by a moment of unparalleled incompetence from Andre Marriner and Torres' demonstration of his remarkable ability to acclimatise to Merseyside, moaning loudly at Marriner on a number of unjustified occasions including one incident in which he gave the referee the old "spectacles" routine after an innocent first half collision with Wolves defender Richard Stearman.

Liverpool started brightly and tested Marcus Hahnemann within the first ten minutes. Emiliano Insua nicked the ball away from his marker and found Torres, who took his time to compose himself and carve out a shooting opportunity which the Wolves goalkeeper turned comfortably over his crossbar. The American had already had a feel of the ball, easily fielding a low shot from skipper Gerrard after a neat Liverpool move in front of a deathly quiet Anfield crowd.

The home side settled quickly and some nice one-touch football after 15 minutes belied their league position and institutional stagnation. Wolves countered well on occasion, and in the 22nd minute Matt Jarvis bolted down the left wing and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake turned smartly in the area but could only fire his shot straight at Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal. Jarvis had been Wanderers' main outlet in the first half and his pace caused one or two problems for Glen Johnson early on.

In the 24th minute a lethal corner from Nenad Milijas presented the game's clearest opportunity so far to Wolves. The expressions of Kevin Doyle and Ebanks-Blake as the Irishman sent his free header clear of Reina's goal told the story, but Wolves kept applying the pressure and Milijas dragged a left-footed half-volley wide under pressure from an on-rushing defender.

Gerrard didn't dominate the game like he so often does, but when on the ball he was both efficient and inventive. By contrast, Torres had a difficult first half and there was a wastefulness about his finishing until he popped a breathtaking lob over Hahnemann after being flagged offside just before the half hour mark. Marriner's assistant gave the correct decision but it was a lot closer than it appeared on first viewing. Shortly afterwards, Gerrard threw himself into two vicious challenges in quick succession and was luckier than a footballer on an assault charge to escape a booking. ESPN summariser Chris Waddle laughably labelled the first a "good challenge" but then we all know he has the smarts and elocution of a demented gibbon.

Liverpool ended the half much as they'd operated for the bulk of it, taking control of sustained periods of the game but unable to prise open a solid Wolves rearguard. They had played reasonably well in the first 45 minutes but appeared to have been sapped of all their confidence by their travails so far this season, missing a touch of swagger when it really mattered. For their part, the visitors broke well - particularly through Jarvis on the left wing - but created little outside a promising five-minute spell in the middle of the first half.

Gerrard had the first meaningful effort on goal in the second half, drawing a save from Hahnemann with a low drive in the 50th minute. Two minutes later, Stephen Ward was at the centre of a very controversial moment which highlighted yet again the ridiculous inability of our officials to make the most basic decision. Having been stupidly booked for holding Benayoun minutes earlier, Ward committed a foul on the edge of the Wolves box. Christophe Berra was a good ten yards from the incident and yet it was the big Scot who was initially - and completely inexplicably - yellow carded.

Thanks to Liverpool's protests Ward was eventually dismissed, but McCarthy was visibly irritated by the way Benitez and his players forcibly informed Marriner of his idiocy. Sorry, Mick - it was clearly Ward and you'd have rightly done the same were the tables turned. Marriner and his assistant referee should be on the wrong end of a suspension because there really was no room for an error like that. The ease with which Liverpool's Lucas hit the deck is another matter, and one which will be completely ignored.

Just after the hour, the eleven men of Liverpool took a deserved lead. Insua's cross was an undefendable delivery across the edge of the six yard box and Steven Gerrard rose high above his markers to head the ball home and make it 1-0. It didn't take long for the Reds to double their lead. Piling on the pressure, a sweeping cross from Fabio Aurelio took a flick-on and found Yossi Benayoun in miles of space at the far post, and the Israeli cut inside a defender before finding the net thanks to a deflection off Karl Henry.

By the last 20 minutes, Liverpool were using the extra man to stretch and dominate the play. With the comfort of a two-goal and one-man cushion, Benitez's men relaxed and began to knock the ball around well. Wolves' desperation was clear, but with Liverpool exploiting their advantage well the Black Country team became more and more resigned to defeat at a drenched Anfield.

The final ten minutes fizzled out without much to stimulate the senses, but that will suit Liverpool just fine. Three points in the bag will ease the pressure on Benitez, but his team will travel to Aston Villa in seventh place on Tuesday.

(Pic via Blackpool FC)