Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool 2 Wolves 0: No resting for Wolves but Steven Gerrard is head boy
This is the season of goodwill, but Mick McCarthy probably knew the question was coming anyway.[LNB]So, by playing a full-strength team at Anfield on Saturday evening, did the Wolves manager see struggling Liverpool as more beatable than a Manchester City side who go to Molineux on Monday playing for their futures under new boss Roberto Mancini?[LNB]'Is this the face of somebody who gives a flying ****?' snapped McCarthy. 'You can take it whichever way you want. I'm not bothered. I did what I had to do.'[LNB]McCarthy has clearly been stung by the furore surrounding his decision to field a reserve team against Manchester United and rest his senior players earlier this month when they last faced the prospect of two games in quick succession.[LNB] Head boy: Gerrard climbs to powerfully head Liverpool into the lead[LNB]His description of striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake walking out of the dressing room 'like an old man' suggests he will have little choice but to once again make changes against City.[LNB]If so, it is yet another indictment of Liverpool's fall from grace that teams like Wolves see a trip to Anfield as more winnable than a home game with City.[LNB]'Everyone was saying it was a good time to come here and I did fancy it this time,' admitted McCarthy. 'Not because of Liverpool but because of us. We played well for an hour.'[LNB]He was right. But for the sending-off of Stephen Ward, Wolves might have nicked this one, having created the better chances until the defender picked up his second booking in less than five minutes.[LNB] No rest for the wicked: McCarthy (right) swore when questioned about his rotation policy after the match[LNB]Neither manager covered himself in glory, McCarthy sarcastically applauding his opposite number Rafael Benitez for making sure Andre Marriner and his assistants were aware they had got the wrong man after the referee initially cautioned Christophe Berra. [LNB]Benitez had kicked off his programme notes by claiming Javier Mascherano's dismissal at Portsmouth the previous week had been the turning point in Liverpool's defeat, and the same argument could apply here. [LNB]Liverpool were finally able to break down a resolute and well-organised Wolves side, with Steven Gerrard charging in to score with a magnificent header from an equally good cross by Emiliano Insua before Yossi Benayoun's deflected shot secured only a third win in nine Barclays Premier League games.[LNB]Benitez underlined the importance of Gerrard's goal ahead of Tuesday's trip to Aston Villa, saying: 'He needed to score and he needed to play well.'[LNB]Gerrard said: 'When you're not getting the results you expect, it's going to affect confidence. We want to put it right. If we show the attitude we did against Wolves, we will move up to where we want to be.'[LNB]But there are growing concerns over Fernando Torres, who cut a frustrated figure as Liverpool try to nurse the striker through his hernia problem.[LNB] VIDEO: McCarthy risks FA charge after slamming Marriner after Wolves' defeatAston Villa v LIVERPOOL: Rafa to restore ever-present Kuyt to Reds starting XIRay Stubbs is released from hospital after swift recoveryALL THE LIVERPOOL FC
