Wolverhampton 0-3 Liverpool

Kenny Dalglish earned his first win since returning to the managerial helm of Liverpool as his side beat Wolves in a hard-fought game.

Striker Fernando Torres tapped in after a pass by the impressive Raul Meireles to put the Reds in front.

Nenad Milijas had a promising effort saved for Wolves before Meireles struck a fantastic 25-yard volley to extend the visitors' lead.

Torres fired in another simple finish to complete Liverpool's win.

The victory comes in Dalglish's fourth game back in charge and will provide some substance to the feelgood factor the Reds legend's return has heralded as he tries to rescue his team's season.

The manner and style of the win will also help raise Liverpool spirits as the energy and industry of Portuguese midfielder Meireles, which was so key to the win, was matched by the rest of a side who earned revenge over the Midlands side.

Wolves had beaten a tame Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in December by pressing their opponents and depriving them of any space or time on the ball.

The home side employed the same tenacious tactics again as they tried to stay stay shirt-tight on their visitors but, this time around, the Reds were a different proposition as they showed a greater fighting spirit aligned with a more accomplished passing game.

Wolves' focus in stymieing the Merseysiders came at the cost of their own attacking play as they rarely threatened at 0-0, while the chances that did come along as the two sides wrestled for supremacy were engineered by Liverpool.

Christian Poulsen provided the first scare for Wolves when he had a sidefooted effort blocked centre-back Christophe Berra, who had just come back on after having a couple of stitches put into a head wound, after a pull-back by fellow midfielder Lucas Leiva.

The forward runs of Lucas and, in particular, Meireles from midfield were a feature of the Reds play and the latter also supplied a delightful angled ball over the top of the Wolves defence to release Torres.

The Spanish striker took the ball with his first touch, cut inside Richard Stearman and struck an early left-footed shot, which keeper Wayne Hennessey parried it away.

Torres and Stearman were involved in a running battle as a feisty affair sometimes showed signs of boiling over, while Meireles sent a 20-yard strike wide and a turn-and-shot from Maxi Rodriguez again called Hennessey into making a save before the Reds took the lead.

Poulsen slid a pass into the clever run of Meireles, who beat the offside trap and unselfishly slid a ball across for Torres tap in, with the Reds forward picking the ball out of the net and dropping it at Stearman's feet as he celebrated.

Wolves had to be more adventurous and, after striker Steve Fletcher had a shot comfortably saved, team-mate Milijas had an effort blocked at the far post by Reds keeper Pepe Reina.

Liverpool had seen leads overturned in their previous two league outings but a similar scenario seemed unlikely as, after Dirk Kuyt failed in poking the ball through Hennessey leg's when through on goal, Meireles added to his side's lead in spectacular style.

Daniel Agger's long free-kick was headed out of the Wolves defence by Berra only to fall for Meireles, who powered in a 25-yard volley.

Liverpool started to play on the counter-attack as they held on to their advantage in edgy manner and Jonjo Shelvey missed the chance to calm their nerves when he blazed over with just Hennessey to beat.

But, even though the Reds had not kept a top-flight clean sheet in six games, they repelled their rivals and a much-needed performance as well as points were sealed when Torres slotted in late on.

Source: BBC

This story has been reproduced from today;s media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.