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2 vs 1
Played
September 24, 2011 3:00 PM BST
Anfield — Liverpool
Referee:‬ K. Friend‎
Attendance:‬ 44922‎
 
11′ (OG) Roger Johnson
38′ Luis Suárez
 
Top of the Match
Lucas
Lucas
Liverpool
Flop of the Match
Richard Stearman
Richard Stearman
Wolves

Liverpool 2-1 Wolves: Luis Suarez adds to Roger Johnson own goal before Steven Fletcher goal sparks exciting second-half

Kenny Dalglish's side end winless streak with victory at Anfield, although Mick McCarthy's side pushed the Reds' to the wire after muted first half performance

By Miles Chambers

EPl,Luis Suarez,Jordan Henderson,Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Getty Images

Liverpool got their Premier League campaign back on track with a 2-1 win at Anfield over Wolves.

Reds' manager Kenny Dalglish will be delighted they secured three points after two consecutive league losses away from home had threatened to overshadow a solid start to the season.

Mick McCarthy’s side will feel unlucky to have lost, with the visitors unable to turn their hard work and commitment into a second goal.

Both sides headed into the game off the back of midweek wins in the League Cup, and it was Wolves who began brighter, fashioning a few half-chances in the opening minutes.

Liverpool began to play more expansively 10 minutes in, and on 11 minutes they took the lead through an own goal, Charlie Adam’s drilled shot was going wide before a deflection off the head of Roger Johnson directed it goalwards.

The Wolves skipper was fighting a losing battle against an in-form Andy Carroll, with the centre-back allowing him to rise unchallenged for a corner, though it was aimed harmlessly at goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

After the initial shock of going a goal down, Wolves started to pin the hosts back a little.

Yet Luis Suarez put an end to any immediate insurgence, timing a run to perfection to beat the offside trap to collect Jose Enrique’s lobbed through ball 38 minutes in.

The Uruguay international dummied on his left and then right foot before turning to finish at the near post, doubling the home side’s lead.

Suarez nearly added a second to his total for the afternoon in first-half stoppage time, sliding his shot just wide after evading a number tackles in the penalty area.


                Head's up | Charlie Adam strikes the effort that led to Johnson's own goal

McCarthy brought Matt Doherty and Steven Fletcher on at half-time, and the manager's changes were immediately justified.

Wolves began at a blistering pace and after a number of whipped crosses failed to be cleared, Stephen Hunt set-up substitute Fletcher to blast into the back of the net on 49 minutes, the West Midlands club scoring their first league goal in four games.

Liverpool nearly responded quickly, with keeper Hennessey unable to hold onto a cross from the left when challenging with Carroll, but the Welshman recovered well to save Suarez’s poached effort with lightning fast reflexes.

Minutes later Carroll powered a header against the post from an inch-perfect cross by Downing, before Dalglish’s side countered swiftly and looked certain to score when four-on-one on the edge of the 18-yard box, but Hennessey once again kept the away side in the match.

At the other end, striker Kevin Doyle should have drawn the the visitors level but stuttered when shooting and ultimately the attack came to nothing.

For the next 15 minutes it was a case of who will score next, with end-to-end football providing an exciting climax at Anfield, with Dirk Kuyt’s introduction for Jordan Henderson livening the home side further.

After 80 minutes, Steven Gerrard made his long-awaited return to Premier League football after six months out, coming on for the reluctant to be substituted Suarez.

The Anfield icon tried a couple of long shots as the game reached its conclusion, and although Gerrard failed to find the target, the Anfield faithful will no doubt be buoyed by a return to winning ways and of their talismanic captain.

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Liverpool

25
José Reina Paez
Goalkeeper
2.5
37
Martin Skrtel
Defender
3.0
23
Jamie Carragher
Defender
3.5
3
José Enrique
Defender
38′
3.5
34
Martin Kelly
Defender
67′
3.0
26
Charlie Adam
Midfielder
11′
3.0
21
Lucas
Midfielder
34′
3.5
19
Stewart Downing
Midfielder
3.0
14
Jordan Henderson
Midfielder
71′
2.5
9
Andy Carroll
Striker
57′
3.0
7
Luis Suárez
Striker
38′ 81′
3.5

Wolves

3.0
1
Wayne Hennessey
Goalkeeper
2.5
16
3.0
14
Roger Johnson
Defender
11′
3.0
11
Stephen Ward
Defender
39′
2.5
5
2.5
4
David Edwards
Midfielder
46′
3.0
8
Karl Henry
Midfielder
33′
3.5
24
Jamie O'Hara
Midfielder
4′
3.5
17
Matthew Jarvis
Midfielder
3.0
12
Stephen Hunt
Midfielder
43′ 49′ 81′
3.5
29
Kevin Doyle
Striker

Substitutes

32
Doni
Goalkeeper
-
38
John Flanagan
Defender
-
16
-
8
Steven Gerrard
Midfielder
81′
3.0
20
Jay Spearing
Midfielder
-
39
Craig Bellamy
Striker
-
18
Dirk Kuyt
Midfielder
71′
3.0

Substitutes

-
31
Dorus De Vries
Goalkeeper
-
3
George Elokobi
Defender
3.0
-
Matt Doherty
Defender
46′
-
14
Adam Hammill
Midfielder
-
20
Nenad Milijas
Midfielder
-
17
Adlène Guedioura
Midfielder
81′
3.5
10

Coach/Manager

-
-

Coach/Manager

-
-
 
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  • Assist
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  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Arsenal
30 2
Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney
Striker
Manchester United
27 6
Kun Agüero Kun Agüero
Striker
Manchester City
23 3
Aiyegbeni Yakubu Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker
Blackburn
17 4
Emmanuel Adebayor Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker
Tottenham
17 3