Boxing Day Match Centre: Liverpool vs Wolves

Full Time: Liverpool’s last home game of 2009 finishes on a high note. The dismissal of Ward in the second half really was the difference, as Mick McCarthy’s men could not hold on with 10 men. While Gerrard showed sparks of brilliance, Torres barely showed up. Benayoun and Aquilani had good games as well, but in my opinion Hahnemann had a nearly perfect game for Wolves, as there was nothing he could have done about either of the goals. Not a vintage performance by the Reds, but three points are valuable as ever for the troops at Anfield.

90º Liverpool have a corner in stoppage time, their 7th of the game. Lucas swings it in and there are appeals for handball. Nothing given.

88º Good sequence of passing by Liverpool. Yossi Benayoun is coming off for Jay Spearing, another one of Rafa’s youngsters. Looks like the rotation is back in style.

86º Torres attempts a cheeky back-heel pass to Benayoun at the top of the six yard box, but Berra intercepts.

84º The pace of the game has dropped, and Rafa Benitez looks set to sub young starlet Dani Pacheco on for Alberto Aquilani.

80º Gerrard with an audacious effort as he tries to chip Hahnemann, but his shot is deflected. The ref misses the call though, Wolves goal kick.

78º Yossi Benayoun latches onto Glen Johnson’s near post cross, but he heads it over the bar. Good effort from the small Israeli.

76º Fabio Aurelio comes off for Dirk Kuyt. Rafa wants a third!

73º Torres tries to pick his spot to the far corner of Hahnemann’s net, but the American international did well to snatch it up at keep Liverpool’s lead at only two.

70º GOAL!!! Liverpool 2 - 0 Wolves!! Yossi Benayoun shows his class by cutting past Henry and hitting it at the Wolves near-post. The ball sliced Henry knee, and the deflection led it past Hahnemann, who could do nothing about it. Liverpool have now secured the three points.

67º Sylvain Ebanks-Blake is now coming off for Iwelumo. Wolves have now used all their substitutions.

65º That was Gerrard’s fifth goal of the Premier League. Liverpool now filled with confidence as reflected in the last few minutes of play.

62º GOAL!!! 1-0 Liverpool!!! And it’s Steven Gerrard with the powerful header! Insua turns his defender on the left flank and serves up a curling cross. Gerrard outjumps Milijas, who has now been substituted for Michael Mancienne.

61º Rain now coming down at Anfield. The pitch seems a bit slick as Torres can’t control Insua’s pass.

60º Mick McCarthy looks set to tell his team to park its bus in front of the Kop end. Its all-out defence for Wolves as they are now without their top scorer.

58º Hahnemann has has quite a game so far, but I’m sure he won’t get nearly enough credit if Wolves come away with something. Kevin Doyle comes off for Elokobi.

56º Benayoun cuts through the Wolves defence, then lays it to Gerrard, who rips it straight into Berra. He’ll feel that one come tomorrow morning.

54º Glen Johnson with a terrible touch, as Ebanks-Blake intercepts. But Johnson makes amends with a great tackle.

52º Drama at Anfield! Ward is shown a second yellow for another rash tackle on Lucas. A bit harsh, but now Wolves are down to ten men and Liverpool how an excellent position for a free-kick.

50º Good sequence of passing from Liverpool, leading up to a Gerrard strike from 20 yards. Good save from Hahnemann as he pushes it out for a corner. The corner results in open play.

49º Ebanks-Blake beats the offside trap, and creates a decent chance for Milijas, who nods it wide of Reina’s goal.

48º Ward is shown the yellow card for a tackle on Yossi Benayoun. Just before Aquilani serveed up a great ball for Yossi, who couldn’t quite control it.

46º And we’re off again. Steven Gerrard gets away with just a talking to for a pretty nasty tackle from behind.

Half-time: A disappointing half for Liverpool. They came out well with good moments and probing passing but around twenty minutes in Wolves had a few half-chances that seemed to unsettle the Reds. Towards the end of the half Liverpool’s passing deteriorated although they still managed a few decent chances. Aquilani has impressed in a rare start but Torres has had little help up front. Hahnemann has done well in the Wolves net, keeping the scores level despite consistent pressing from the Reds. While no one would have believed it at the start of the season, three points for Wolves may not be out of the question. I expect Kuyt to play some role in this game, perhaps he’ll be the catalyst. Stay with us!

45º Aurelio finds Glen Johnson on the edge of the box. The England international gets off a low shot but Wolves escape, again.

42º Things have no been working out for Liverpool so far. Rafael Benitez gets up and shouts some instructions fromm the touchline.

39º Liverpool pass the ball around the midfield but Lucas is frustrated by the lack of moment and shoots from distance, well over.

38º Wolves are experiencing a rare spell of possession, a few half-chances but nothing materializes.

36º Fabio Aurelio lofts in a free-kick form the right, a poor effort, easily handled by Hahnemann.

31º Gerrard goes in hard in the tackle inside the Wolves eighteen, dig in! But the referee deems it a foul.

30º Torres gets in behind and chips the ball over Hahnemann and into the net. But the whistle blows, offside.

27º Gerrard holds up the ball in the box and cleverly back-heels it to Torres. But the Spaniard scuffs his curling effort.

26º Doyle flicks the ball across the penalty area, Milijas hit it first time at the top of the box, a good hit but always rising.

23º Wolves win a free-kick on the edge of the box. Milijas curls the ball across goal but Reina is able to parry it over, conceding a corner. Ebanks-Blake heads the ensuing corner just wide.

22º Ebanks-Blake turns Carragher but his snapshot is right at Reina.

20º Liverpool are probing the Wolves back-line but they have been unable to penetrate with a good final pass.

17º Wolves get their first opportunity thus far. A cross from wide right is flicked on to Milijas, but his volley goes well over.

15º Torres receives a Gerrard pass but Berra knocks him off the ball on the edge of the box, no foul.

11º Aurelio whips in a free-kick from the left, Torres meets it with his head but his effort ends up closer to the corner flag than the goal.

9º Wolves have had very little of the ball so far. Liverpool  are dominating in possession.

6º Aquilani gets stuck in the tackle in the middle of the park and squares the ball for Gerrard, who strikes it first time from twenty-five yards. Hahnemann collects.

4º Glen Johnson gets in behind down the right, his chipped cross cannot find a teammate.

1º Liverpool get an early free-kick about thirty yards out. Fabio Aurelio curls in towards the top-right corner, but Hahnemann holds on with ease.

The teams take the field. We’re just about set to kick off.

Team Line-ups:

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Aquilani, Lucas, Benayoun, Gerrard, Aurelio, Torres.

Subs: Cavalieri, Kuyt, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Skrtel, Pacheco.

Wolverhampton: Hahnemann, Stearman, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Foley, Henry, Milijas, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake, Doyle.

Subs: Hennessey, Elokobi, Surman, Iwelumo, Mancienne, Maierhofer, Castillo.

Pregame Coverage: Last Christmas was a merry one for Liverpool fans; their side was top of the Premier League and won 3-0 over Bolton on Boxing Day. A year later and things could not be more different. Liverpool are sitting in 8th place at the moment, behind the likes of Birmingham City and tied with Fulham. Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has no sympathy for Rafael Benitez as he looks to add to the Liverpool manager’s problems. Wolves are in surprisingly good form, with recent results such as the win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane. McCarthy said: “I can’t remember ever receiving sympathy from anyone. So I don’t expect any and I don’t give any out either.”

Random Interesting Statistic: It is nearly 26 years since Wolves last beat Liverpool, although they have only met twice in that time.