Liverpool FC Player Ratings vs. Wolves: Reds Happy with Ugly Win

Mick McCarthy brought his Wolverhampton Wanderers side to Anfield in search of a repeat performance of their victory over Liverpool in the same fixture last season.  Kenny Dalglish’s side was able to secure a 2-1 victory, however, rebounding from a two game slide.

Wolves started in a 4-1-4-1 formation, crowding the midfield with five defensive players in an attempt to force Liverpool away from their preferred quick-passing game—and the effort almost paid early dividends by forcing the Liverpool midfielders into a series of errors.

Charlie Adam started the game with a foul and a giveaway near the top of the box, but Liverpool were able to survive the initial onslaught and succeeded in putting their early stamp on the game.

The effort was lead by the hustle of Andy Carroll, which got Wolves midfielder Jamie O’Hara a booking in the fifth minute.  Moments later, Carroll could be seen busting his lungs trying to get onto Luis Suárez’s pass from the ensuing free kick.

Nice link up play between Suárez and Jordan Henderson forced a corner in the 10^th minute, and the constant pressure by Liverpool eventually yielded a result.  In the 11^th minute, Adam saw his shot deflect off Wolves captain Roger Johnson and past a stranded Wayne Hennessy

Adam feigned a left-footed strike to get O’Hara off his feet, before pulling the ball back onto his right.  Johnson seemed to forget his positioning in the box, as the shot was clearly going well wide of goal.  Nonetheless the goal brought Anfield to life, and the Reds continued to pressure.

Carroll was in the midst of it all.  First, a fabulous long throw from Pepe Reina, all the way to the Wolves third saw the big man spring Suárez towards goal, but he was ruled to be just offside.  Then, off a Downing corner kick in the 14^th minute, Carroll forced Hennessy into the first of what would be several highlight reel saves on the day.

Brilliant improvisation by Suárez saw him free himself from Johnson with a neat back heel, before attempting to pull the ball back for Downing, but the defense intercepted. 

In the 22^nd minute, Suárez found himself just inches from slotting home a beautiful 30-yard curling cross from Carroll into the box.

Liverpool opted to play long diagonal balls and not their short passing game, adapting to the Wolves defensive strategy.  Even so, they bossed the first half by pressuring Wolves high and looking to spring Carroll and Suárez early.

José Enrique found Stewart Downing on the wing, and the former Aston Villa man dribbled the ball into the box before squaring for Suárez, who scuffed his shot just wide. 

Another Enrique long pass lead to Suárez putting Liverpool up 2-0 in the 38^th minute.

Enrique sent a ball over the top to Suárez, who checked his run before collecting the ball inside the box, left of goal.  Marked closely by Christophe Berra, Suárez checked onto his right foot, then quickly back to his left to create a little space for himself, before firing a shot past a surprised Hennessy on the near post.

Liverpool finished the first half in fine form, while Wolves were left ruing their mental lapses.  McCarthy made some changes at the half, bringing one-time Liverpool supporter Steven Fletcher on for Dave Edwards, and removing defender Richard Stearman in favor of 19-year-old Matt Doherty. 

With Fletcher as an additional striker, Wolves switched to a conventional 4-4-2 and reaped immediate dividends.  An O’Hara cross was met by an unconvincing punch by Pepe Reina, who collided with Martin Skrtel in the process.

The clearance got only as far as Wolves defender Karl Henry just outside the box, whose attempted cross was deflected by Enrique to Stephen Hunt inside the area.

Hunt then took the ball to the endline before cutting back to a wide-open Fletcher at the top of the six-yard box, who fired the ball into the roof of Reina’s goal to put Wolves on the board in the 49^th minute. 

Fletcher was left alone by Skrtel who instinctively, but somewhat unnecessarily, dropped to the endline to add cover to the goal mouth, already guarded by Reina.  With Enrique, Adam and now Skrtel focused on Hunt, Fletcher was given room to operate, and he made no mistake with the opportunity.

The episode revealed a clear lack of organization and communication, as Lucas Leiva and Martin Kelly were also back, along with Jamie Carragher, but none of them reacted in time to cover for Skrtel, and Liverpool were made to pay the price.

One minute later Liverpool almost got an immediate response from Suárez, as a Downing's cross was knocked down by Carroll into the Uruguayan’s path from eight yards out, forcing Hennessy into a point blank save of the striker’s half volley.

Another Downing cross into the box was headed off the upright by Carroll, bringing a brief, but resounding, “Carroll… Carroll” serenade from the home fans.  A minute later Downing broke in alone on Hennessy, forcing a fantastic reflex save from the Welsh international keeper.

While Wolves undeniably had the better result with the goal, Liverpool enjoyed an equally bright start to the second half. They had more possession than Wolves, and forced Hennessy into two point blank saves, to go with Carroll’s headed attempt off the upright.

Matt Jarvis made life hellish for Kelly on the Liverpool right, while Carroll would tee up Lucas for a well-taken effort put just wide in the 70^th minute.  Both teams settled into a chess match from then on, but rarely tested the opposing keeper.

Dirk Kuyt replaced Jordan Henderson after 71 minutes, and Steven Gerrard came on for an obviously disappointed Suárez in the 81^st.   

The two injected much-needed energy into the Liverpool side, with Gerrard in particular looking equally sharp and hungry.

Suárez kicked away a water bottle as he made his way to the bench, and minutes later was still seen shaking his head in apparent disagreement with his substitution. He would head straight into the locker room at the whistle in an unfortunate, if understandable, sign of petulance.

As always, player ratings are presented by position (back-to-front) below, along the following guidelines:

10: Exceptional—superlative performances only.

9: Excellent—outstanding performance.

8: Impressive—very influential game.

7: Very good—eye-catching game.

6: Average—good game, but nothing overly impressive.

5: Below Average—decent performance, but with some faults.

4: Poor—many faults, performance stands out for all the wrong reasons.

Additionally, any performance which affects the outcome of the game will increase or decrease a player’s rating by half a point (.5)

Reina—Played much better than he did at Spurs last game, but still displayed some uncharacteristic unsteadiness. This included the half clearance that lead to Fletcher’s goal (should have made a shout for the cross to alert Skrtel) and was surprisingly out-jumped by Berra on a 69th minute cross.  Grade 5

Kelly—Was tested all day by Matt Jarvis along the Liverpool right side, and eventually earned a place in the referee’s book with a very rash challenge on the Wolves midfielder.  Grade 5

Carragher—Overall had a better than average game, save for a terrible back pass that was intercepted, leading to Reina’s first save in the 8^th minute off O’Hara shot.  Grade 6.5

Skrtel—Started at center back in place of the injured Daniel Agger. Earned a talking to from the ref in the 27^th minute, and was lucky to escape a booking in the 59th after a high studs-up challenge, which left a nasty red welt running from the right rib cage to hip of Fletcher. Yet another dangerous tackle from behind on Doyle in the 80th could have could have resulted in a yellow card.  Grade 4.5

José Enrique—Rebounded from his nightmare performance against Spurs with another of his trademark overall efforts.  Created innumerable chances for team mates today, including the game winner from Suárez.  Grade 8

Adam—Aside from the goal, he seemed to float through the match without making much of an impact.  Even so, deserves credit for taking his half a chance and making the most of it. Grade 6.5

Lucas—Was booked for going through back of Stearman’s legs in the 32^nd minute, but was the heart of the Liverpool middle today.  Tracked back into the box to block a Dave Edwards shot bound for goal in 35^th and supporting the offense as well, questions will be asked on the Fletcher goal, but he was hardly the only one at fault there.  Grade 7.5

Henderson (Kuyt 70th)—Yet another middling cameo by Henderson. He had a moment here and there, including a nice cut in run from the right side tried to set up Carroll with a slip pass in the 66th minute, but it is baffling as to why he continues to be favored over Dirk Kuyt in the starting lineup.  Grade 6

Downing—Had a very good game today with constant probing runs along the left side of midfield for Liverpool.  Sent countless crosses into the box for Carroll to get onto, and set the table perfectly for Suárez who missed just wide.  He continues to be Liverpool’s most influential attacking player after Suárez.  Grade 7.5

Carroll—Simply put, he had his best game of the season for Liverpool.  His work rate was very good from start to finish, tracking back to defend on Wolves set pieces late in the game, and even ended up two rows deep into the Kop after chasing down and keeping a wayward cross in play in the 73^rd. 

Is beginning to show signs of an understanding with Suárez, with the pair constantly looked for and found each other, although there remains some uncertainty at times.   Even so, Charlie Nicholas of Sky Sports makes the astute observation that his movement is not yet up to par.  On crosses he’s already in the position that he wants to end up in, rather than moving defenders around to create space for himself in that final position.  Grade 7

Suárez (Gerrard 81’)—Continues to be Liverpool’s talisman, as goes Suárez so go Liverpool.  His movement off the ball is incredible to behold as he seems to have an innate understanding of angles and positioning within the opponent’s final third.

Equally comfortable creating for himself and for others, and clearly stood out today as the best player on the pitch, with all due respect to Wayne Hennessy.  It was very disappointing to see his reaction to being substituted, and should have added at least one more goal, but even that cannot take the shine off what was a very good performance.   Grade 8.5

Substitutes

Kuyt—Did not really have much of an opportunity to do much after coming on for Henderson, but even then, still managed to show more effort and hustle than the former Sunderland man.  Grade 6

Gerrard—Displayed a real hunger, as can be expected after a six-month layoff.  Snatched at a 25-meter half chance, putting the shot high and wide, and complemented that effort with a couple other runs into the box. Very promising showing for the returning captain. Grade 6.5

Unused: Alexander Doni, Craig Bellamy, John Flanagan, Jay Spearing, Sebastián Coates