Source: Daily_Mail
Wolves 0 Liverpool 0: Rafa Benitez left frustrated as Reds are held at Molineux
Liverpool suffered a blow to their hopes of securing Champions Leaguefootball as they were frustrated by Mick McCarthy's side in a Barclays PremierLeague clash at Molineux.[LNB]The Reds actually moved above Manchester City on goal difference into fifth spot with a share of the spoils but they have played two games more.[LNB]In contrast, it was a precious point for Wolves in their battle to stay in the top flight.[LNB] Taking a tumble: Steven Gerrard goes down after being challenged by Jody Craddock[LNB]Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, whose agent has played down reportslinking the Spaniard with a move to Juventus, saw his side dominate theopening 45 minutes in terms of possession.[LNB]But, in the absence of the injured Fernando Torres, they lacked adecisive cutting edge despite the return after a hamstring injury ofskipper Steven Gerrard who was well policed by Michael Mancienne.[LNB]McCarthy opted for a change of formation with record signing KevinDoyle the only striker in a 4-5-1 formation and they frustrated theReds throughout the first 45 minutes with veteran defender JodyCraddock outstanding.[LNB]But after the break Wolves played with increasing belief and fluencyand it was their turn to enjoy large spells of territorial dominance.[LNB]Doyle was a constant menace with his pace and power unsettling the Redsrearguard despite often being outnumbered.[LNB]Liverpool, who had taken 10 points from the previous four games, were quickly into their stride.[LNB]Gerrard's second minute corner was met by the head of Albert Riera at the nearpost but his effort flashed across the Wolves box.[LNB]Dirk Kuyt, bubbling with confidence after his double againstTottenham, tried his luck from 20 yards out but Craddock was able tomake an important block.[LNB] Tussle: Matthew Jarvis and Liverpool's Jamie Carragher battle for the ball[LNB]Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina was booed every time he touched the ballby Wolves fans who remembered his part in the incident when StephenWard was sent off at Anfield on Boxing Day.[LNB]Liverpool enjoyed the lion's share of possession but Wolves copedcomfortably and the best chance of the opening half fell to Doyle after33 minutes in a Wolves counter-attack.[LNB]Jamie Carragher was isolated in the right-back role and unable toprevent Matt Jarvis from getting past him and sending in a low cross tothe near post.[LNB]Doyle made a run across the Reds defence to attack the ball at the near post but poked his shot just wide.[LNB]Jarvis was posing the biggest threat for Wolves and another teasingcentre picked out the run of Kevin Foley at the far post but his headerwas directed straight at Reina.[LNB]Christophe Berra got in a great challenge to halt the run of MaxiRodriguez into the Wolves box at the expense of a corner just beforehalf-time.[LNB]Gerrard was a peripheral figure for most of the first half butthreatened after the restart when he seized onto a ball in behind fromLucas Leiva only for Berra to be alert to the situation.[LNB] Stalemate: Stephen Ward challenges Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt at Molineux[LNB]Marcus Hahnemann had to be alert when backpedalling to palm away a looping first time effort from the edge of the area by Riera.[LNB]Ward then almost played the home team into trouble with a mis-timedback pass but Hahnemann raced 20 yards out of his box to clear fromKuyt.[LNB]Doyle was impressing whenever Wolves ventured forward but would havebeen disappointed not to hit the target after he found some spaceoutside the box.[LNB]Wolves were playing with increasing fluency and the belief was starting to grow amongst their young players.[LNB]Kuyt curled a 20-yard shot past the post after Gerrard enjoyed somerare freedom and the game was more of an entertaining spectacle.[LNB]Benitez made his first substitution after 67 minutes with David Ngog replacing Riera and Kuyt moving into a wider role.[LNB]The impressive Doyle drilled a left-foot shot past the post after getting past Martin Skrtel.[LNB]Skrtel was booked after 73 minutes for a lunge at Ward. McCarthy replaced Nenad Milijas with David Jones a minute later.[LNB] Rafa Benitez's agent stirs it up with link to prospective Juventus jobCompetition: Win a pair of tickets for Liverpool v Bolton on January 30 - courtesy of BarclaysWOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS FC
