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

Liverpool got their chase for a Champions League chase back on track with a 2-1 win at Anfield but Wolves proved worthy opponents in a feisty, end-to-end encounter. Roger Johnson's deflected own goal gave the home side the lead early on and Luis Suarez tacked on another in the first half, but Steven Fletcher's 49th minute strike made for an entertaining second half.

Reds manager Kenny Dalglish will be delighted his team secured three points after two consecutive losses away from home had threatened to overshadow a solid start to the season. Mick McCarthy’s men will feel unlucky to have lost, but they were unable to turn hard work and graft into a second goal.

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

Liverpool began to come out of its shell 10 minutes in, and on 11 minutes it took the lead through an own goal. Charlie Adam’s drilled shot looked to be going wide before a deflection off the head of Roger Johnson directed it goalwards, leaving Wayne Hennessey with no chance.

After the initial shock of going a goal down, though Wolves started to pin the hosts back a little. However, Luis Suarez put an end to any immediate insurgence with a perfectly-timed run to beat the offside trap and collect Jose Enrique’s lobbed through ball 38 minutes in. The Uruguay international dummied on his left foot then right foot before turning to finish at the near post, doubling the home side’s lead.

McCarthy brought Matt Doherty and Steven Fletcher on at halftime, and the experienced manager proved justified in his quick changes immediately.

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

Liverpool nearly responded wonderfully, but Hennessey made a number of timely stops, including one from a four-on-one break. Andy Carroll also hit the post for Liverpool, which continued to be frustrated in its attempts to extend the lead.

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

The two sides continued to exchange attacks, but neither could find a way through. The most notable moment of the endgame came when Steven Gerrard entered the game for Suarez, making his first Premier League appearance after six months out. His introduction allowed Liverpool to pin Wolves back and hold on for an important win.