Liverpool – Wolverhampton Wanderers

1. Hello and welcome to the live commentary for Liverpool's match at home to Wolves.

2. Rafa Benitez desperately needs a win following the 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth and he is giving Aquilani the chance to deliver from the start alongside Gerrard and Torres.

3. Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Aquilani, Leiva, Benayoun, Gerrard, Aurelio, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Kuyt, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Skrtel, Pacheco.

4. Wolves, meanwhile, are not fielding a weakened team for this trip to one of the nation's most famous grounds. Is he confident of a win or was he affected by the criticism after the Old Trafford defeat?

5. Wolves: Hahnemann, Stearman, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Foley, Henry, Milijas, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake, Doyle. Subs: Hennessey, Elokobi, Surman, Iwelumo, Mancienne, Maierhofer, Castillo.

6. Benitez has told ESPN that it is "always important" to win in football, playing down the pressure on his side to start moving back towards the top four. Benitez has also played down his criticism of Gerrard.

7. Mick McCarthy, meanwhile, told ESPN that he is going for a positive formation - 4-4-2 - because it has served the side well, but admits a trip to Anfield is always likely to be a big test in spite of the hosts' current problems.

8. Benitez has rested Kuyt for the game, perhaps in response to his recent disappointing form, while Mascherano is suspended.

9. The players are out on the field and getting ready for the kick-off.

10. 1'

    Liverpool get the game underway!

11. 1'

    Liverpool win an early free-kick 25 yards out.

12. 1'

    Aurelio curls it towards the top corner, but it's an easy catch for Hahnemann.

13. 2'

    Torres is in pain after a firm but fair challenge from Stearman.

14. 3'

    Jarvis looks to wind his way through on goal as Liverpool look a little nervy in defence early on.

15. 4'

    The ball strikes Gerrard in the face and he looks a little groggy.

16. 5'

    Benayoun looks to feed Gerrard down the right, but the ball is shepherded away from trouble.

17. 5'

    Johnson flicks in a ball from inside the area, but it's neither cross nor shot.

18. 6'

    Gerrard has a decent shot on goal from outside the area after some tenacious play from Aquilani.

19. 7'

    Insua breaks through into the area and finds Torres. He struggles to find space but sticks to his task and forces Hahnemann to tip the ball over for a corner.

20. 8'

    Gerrard sends it in and Hahnemann flaps at it, but Wolves get it away.

21. 9'

    Gerrard curls in a cross from out on the left, but it fails to find any red shirts. Goal kick.

22. 10'

    Carragher plays a flat ball down thr right flank looking for Torres, but it's out for a goal kick. Liverpool's big players look like they want to fight for the result today.

23. 11'

    Doyle concedes a free-kick as Liverpool have the chance to deliver from the right flank.

24. 12'

    Aurelio whips it in but Torres gets it all wrong, heading it in completely the wrong direction.

25. 13'

    Ebanks-Blake looks for Jarvis down the left but Carragher sees it out for a throw-in.

26. 14'

    Aurelio crosses in after Benayoun did well to take possession from Henry, but again they fail to find the target with the cross.

27. 15'

    Torres goes down under Berra's challenge inside the D, but the referee isn't interested.

28. 16'

    Wolves fail to deal with a ball across the face of goal but it doesn't quite run for Liverpool and Benayoun lets it run out for a corner.

29. 17'

    The corner clears everyone. Agger asks for a penalty after getting barged over, but that would have been a very harsh decision.

30. 18'

    Milijas blazes well over the bar as the ball is nodded into his path on the edge of the area.

31. 18'

    Insua sees another cross headed away as Liverpool apply sustained pressure.

32. 19'

    Johnson puts in a cross, but Hahnemann claims easily. Liverpool seem reluctant to put men forwards into the box at the moment.

33. 20'

    Torres rises to meet a deep ball into the area, but he's outnumbered. Benayoun tries to put it back in from the right, but again it comes straight back out.

34. 21'

    Johnson passes the ball into the area left-footed, but it's straight at the Wolves defence.

35. 22'

    Jarvis beats Johnson down the left flank and Ebanks-Blake turns to get in a shot inside the area to test Reina. Great work from the duo, but bad defending from Johnson.

36. 23'

    Doyle goes down under Agger's challenge on the corner of the area. They could look to fire this beyond Reina.

37. 24'

    Milijas curls one in and Reina has to tip over the bar for a corner.

38. 24'

    Doyle heads wide of the goal two yards in front of the goal! That was a glorious chance and Wolves should be a goal up.

39. 26'

    Doyle hooks the ball back over his shoulder and Milijas just drags the shot wide. Worrying times for Liverpool.

40. 27'

    Gerrard breaks into the area and knocks it back to Torres, but the Spaniard sidefoots the ball hopelessly wide.

41. 28'

    Lucas stands on Ward's foot on the halfway line. He was lucky to escape a booking there.

42. 29'

    The home fans are frustrated as a long build-up comes to nothing.

43. 29'

    Torres flicks the ball into the net sublimely, but he's just offside and it's not given. Very unfortunate.

44. 31'

    Johnson does brilliantly well to get a cross in from the right but it hits Ward. Gerrard throws himself into a couple of challenges and concedes a foul, getting a warning to calm it down a bit.

45. 32'

    Ebanks-Blake just gets his feet tangled up with Agger as he chases a ball down the right flank and Liverpool win a free-kick.

46. 33'

    Torres attempts to flick a ball down the left but completely misjudges it and it's out for a throw-in.

47. 34'

    Wolves get the decision as Johnson thinks he's won a corner off Jarvis. The home fans groan in unison.

48. 36'

    Liverpool win a free-kick from some distance and Aurelio looks to put it into the box.

49. 36'

    Woeful free-kick - straight to the goalkeeper.

50. 37'

    Stearman and Torres have an angry exchange after a collision. Torres is looking frustrated today.

51. 37'

    Gerrard plays a poor cross into the box from out on the left, flat and straight to the defender.

52. 38'

    Gerrard and Insua both slide in on Stearman to make a challenge.

53. 39'

    Ward sends a deep ball in from the left and Doyle is unmarked in the box. However, he's too far wide and can only hook it back towards Reina.

54. 39'

    Lucas fires a speculative effort over the bar and Liverpool look short on ideas.

55. 40'

    A long ball comes straight through for Hahnemann.

56. 41'

    Lucas wins a corner as his shot on the edge of the area is blocked.

57. 41'

    Gerrard whips it in but the ref suggests it has gone out of play before coming back in. Goal kick.

58. 43'

    Johnson looks to move the ball into a central area outside the Wolves box, but he holds onto it too long, falls over and Wolves break.

59. 44'

    Luckily for Johnson, Liverpool clear.

60. 44'

    Johnson fires in a fierce shot, knocking Berra to the ground.

61. 45'

    Johnson gets a lucky bounce and fires in a low shot, forcing Hahnemann into a decent save.

62. 45'

    Johnson lifts the ball over the Wolves defence and out for a goal kick. One minute of added time.

63. 46'

    Lucas brings down Milijas. Wolves could loft this into the area.

64. 47'

    Poor free-kick from Milijas, easily blasted clear by Gerrard.

65. 47'

    Poor free-kick from Milijas, easily blasted clear by Gerrard.

66. 47'

    It's half-time and Liverpool have again failed to find their best form. Wolves will be pleased with the match so far.

67. 46'

    Wolves get the second half underway.

68. 47'

    The ball comes to Benayoun in the area from Aquilani's superb pass, but the Israeli's touch lets him down.

69. 47'

    Ward collects a booking and gives away a free-kick out on the right.

70. 48'

    Aurelio swings it in but it's easy for Reina.

71. 49'

    Ebanks-Blake gets a cross in inside the Liverpool box, but it's wasted despite having decent options.

72. 50'

    Jarvis does well to put the ball out of play as Johnson looks to make progress.

73. 51'

    Gerrard forces a solid save from Hahnemann. Insua did well to create some space on the edge of the area before squaring for Gerrard.

74. 52'

    Berra is yellow carded, but it appears it is mistaken identity and Ward should have been sent off!

75. 52'

    Andre Marriner has realised his mistake and he has now shown Ward his second yellow and sent him off. Wolves are down to ten men and Liverpool have a free-kick in a dangerous position.

76. 54'

    Gerrard whips it in but it's headed away immediately. Mick McCarthy looks angry at the sending off.

77. 56'

    Aquilani looks to be the hero as he sees a shot blocked. Liverpool hold onto possession but Gerrard also sees his effort blocked. There's more belief around Anfield now.

78. 57'

    Goal kick to Wolves after some good defending from Jarvis.

79. 58'

    Elokobi comes on for Doyle as McCarthy looks to set up a 4-4-1.

80. 60'

    Liverpool win a corner as Elokobi blocks Benayoun's cross.

81. 61'

    Hahnemann punches to Insua outside the area. The full-back passes to Torres, but the striker's control is poor and it's a goal kick.

82. 62'

    GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL! Gerrard heads Liverpool into a 1-0 lead!

83. 62'

    Insua whipped the ball right into the centre and Gerrard roses above several defenders to head into the back of the net.

84. 62'

    Wolves take off Milijas for Mancienne.

85. 63'

    Lucas bursts into the area and wins a corner from Stearman.

86. 64'

    Gerrard wants a free-kick as he's blocked off by Ebanks-Blake, but nothing is given.

87. 65'

    Johnson nearly tees up Benayoun on the edge of the area, but the pass is intercepted.

88. 66'

    Iwelumo comes on for Wolves in place of Ebanks-Blake.

89. 67'

    Johnson wastes an attacking throw-in. Goal kick for Wolves.

90. 68'

    Aquilani loses possession and Wolves end up with a free-kick just inside their own half. They will look to lob this in.

91. 69'

    Mancienne's free-kick causes few difficulties and Reina gathers.

92. 69'

    Aquilani gives away possession again but Johnson wins it back with an excellent tackle.

93. 69'

    GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL! Benayoun makes it 2-0!

94. 69'

    The cross from out on the left finds Benayoun and his shot takes a deflection from Henry before beating Hahnemann. Liverpool should be home and dry now.

95. 72'

    Gerrard looks to find Torres with a clever pass with the outside of the boot, but Hahnemann is able to gather it up with no difficulty.

96. 73'

    Torres curls in a shot on goal from the edge of the area, but it's easy for Hahnemann. He's looked well short of full form and fitness today.

97. 74'

    Benayoun produces some skill to drift into the field, but his through ball for Torres doesn't quite come off.

98. 75'

    Jarvis bursts down the left and chips a ball into the area, but he can't find the target.

99. 76'

    Kuyt comes on in place of Aurelio.

100. 76'

     Elokobi does well to take the ball from Benayoun as he looks to break into the box.

101. 78'

     Benayoun heads just over after Aquilani and Johnson did well.

102. 79'

     Johnson nearly finds himself in trouble as he takes an age to clear the ball under pressure from Jarvis, but he wins the throw-in.

103. 80'

     Gerrard is played in on the right of the area and sees his cross deflected over the bar by Elokobi, but it's a goal kick.

104. 81'

     Really poor pass from Aquilani, straight out of play. The Italian has at times looked excellent today, but at others been sloppy.

105. 82'

     Gerrard's cross is easily claimed by the keeper. Liverpool are in complete control at this stage.

106. 84'

     Aquilani comes off to be replaced by youngster Pacheco.

107. 86'

     Pacheco finds Torres in the box, but his backheel fails to finds its target.

108. 87'

     Kuyt brings down Henry as the Wolves midfielder looks to bring the ball out of defence.

109. 88'

     Wolves are appealing for a handball against Agger in the area, but Marriner waves away the appeals.

110. 88'

     Torres looks to play in Benayoun but it doesn't quite come off. It's the midfielder's final involvement in the game as he is replaced by Spearing, seemingly limping as he's withdrawn.

111. 89'

     Kuyt angles a ball into the area, but there's no one there and it goes straight to the keeper.

112. 91'

     Foley nearly gets on the end of a long ball, but Insua holds him off and Reina gathers. At the other end, Liverpool win a corner from Elokobi.

113. 92'

     Lucas lobs it in but it's headed out.

114. 94'

     Pacheco looks to cross one in but Elokobi blocks it. We're into the final minute.

115. 94'

     Gerrard fires a ball across the area but Elokobi heads away.

116. 94'

     It's all over! Liverpool claim a 2-0 win over ten-man Wolves.

117. 94'

     Gerrard opened the scoring shortly after Ward's muddled dismissal and a deflected shot from Benayoun made it 2-0. It's a much-needed victory for Rafa Benitez and Liverpool will be happy with to get back to winning ways.

118. 94'

     Thanks for joining us for our coverage of the Boxing Day action. Stick with ESPN Soccernet for the match report and post-match reaction.

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