Source: Liverpool_Echo
Liverpool FC 2 Wolves 0: Dominic King’s verdict
THE clock in the corner of the Kop had just turned six when Anfield was treated to the kind of sumptuous moment that only happens when geniuses combine.[LNB]Seizing possession on the halfway line, Steven Gerrard cast a quick glance forward before delivering a laser-guided through ball to Fernando Torres, who had evaded the attentions of his markers to skip clear.[LNB]Without breaking stride, Torres nonchalantly hoisted the ball over the head of stranded goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann into the back of the Wolverhampton Wanderers' net to leave the majority of a 41,956 crowd gasping in disbelief.[LNB]Before they had chance to start cheering and serenading Torres with his 'Liverpool's number nine' hymn, however, an assistant referee's fluttering flag quickly put an end to the revelry; Torres, unfortunately, had strayed a fraction offside.[LNB]In many ways, though, it was a passage of play which summed up Liverpool's turbulent campaign, in that it promised much, threatened to be brilliant but, ultimately, left everyone feeling flat and frustrated.[LNB]When the final ball of the campaign is kicked next May, it is inevitably that the overwhelming feeling amongst supporters will be about what might have been but to what extent will be determined in the next eight Premier League games.[LNB]Having eventually got the better of a Wolves team that were all persistence and determination, Liverpool could well have received the boost of confidence which they have been crying out for during the past month.[LNB]For much of the first 45 minutes on Boxing night, Liverpool looked set to suffer more heartache, as their failure to poke their noses in front early on led to poor passing, no movement and an increased sense of anxiety.[LNB]Had they fallen behind during Wolves' most productive spell of the contest, when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake drilled a shot straight at Pepe Reina and Kevin Doyle fluffed a free header, this report could have assumed the tone of another post-mortem.[LNB]In many ways, it had echoes of what happened at Portsmouth; the Reds may have kept possession well but when the early goal they craved never arrived, thing started to go askew and a better side than Wolves would have taken full advantage.[LNB]Fortunately that wasn't the case; the second half was much better and, though this is said with some caution, suggested that Liverpool are poised to emerge from their bleak mid-winter and rejoin the battle for Champions League qualification.[LNB]Admittedly, they received a helping hand when match official Andre Marriner sent off Wolves' defender Stephen Ward for two bookable offences after consulting with one of his assistants, having been besieged by a posse of Liverpool players.[LNB]It was perhaps unedifying for some to see Pepe Reina hurtle 80 yards from his goal to speak with Marriner and others badger him but he deserves criticism himself for allowing the situation to unfold.[LNB]Ward was asking for trouble when he tangled with Lucas, so soon after yanking Yossi Benayoun back, but Marriner appeared to lose his nerve when realising he would have to send the left-back off.[LNB]Marriner threatened to make himself a laughing stock when booking Christophe Berra but he at least arrived at the right decision and as soon as Wolves had a numerical disadvantage, it quickly became apparent that they were fighting a losing battle.
