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Page last updated at 14:40 GMT, Saturday, 22 January 2011

Wolverhampton   0 - 3   Liverpool

Raul Meireles is congratulated by team-mates after his spectacular goal
Meireles (centre) scored a spectacular goal for Liverpool

By Mandeep Sanghera

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

Fernando Torres tapped in from a pass by the impressive Raul Meireles to put the Reds in front after 36 minutes.

Nenad Milijas had a promising effort saved for Wolves before Meireles struck a dipping 25-yard volley into the top corner of the net in the 50th minute.

Torres completed the win in the last minute with another simple finish.

Victory came in Dalglish's fourth game back in charge and will increase the feel good factor he has engendered as he tries to rescue his team's season.

Dalglish delights in confidence-boosting win

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 the side.

It earned revenge over Wolves, who 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 to their visitors but, this time around, the Reds were a different proposition as they showed a greater fighting spirit combined with a more accomplished passing game.

Wolves' focus on stifling their opponents 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 gave Wolves their first scare when, from a pull-back by fellow midfielder Lucas Leiva, he had a side-footed effort blocked by centre-back Christophe Berra, who had just come back on after having a couple of stitches put into a head wound.

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 pass over the top of the Wolves defence to release Torres.

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The Spaniard took the ball with his first touch, cut inside defender Richard Stearman and struck an early left-footed shot, which keeper Wayne Hennessey parried 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 forced Hennessey into making a save before Liverpool took the lead.

Poulsen slid a pass into the clever run of Meireles, who beat the offside trap and unselfishly slid a ball across goal for Torres to tap in. The striker picked the ball out of the net and dropped it at the feet of Stearman 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 Pepe Reina.

Liverpool had seen leads overturned in their previous two league games but a similar occurrence seemed unlikely because, 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.

When Berra headed Daniel Agger's long free-kick out of the Wolves defence the ball fell to Meireles and he fired home with unerring precision.

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Liverpool started to play on the counter attack as they edgily held on to their advantage 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 clean sheet in their six previous Premier League games, they repelled their rivals and sealed the points when Torres fired into the roof of the net from close range.

Live text and stats

 

Saturday, 22 January 2011

Barclays Premier League

Home Team Score Away Team Time
Wolves 0-3 Liverpool FT
(HT 0-1)
    • Torres 36
    • Meireles 50
    • Torres 90+1

    Wolverhampton

    Substitutes

    Liverpool

    Substitutes

    Ref: AtkinsonAtt: 28,869
    WOLVES
    LIVERPOOL

    Possession

    • Wolves 49%
    • Liverpool 51%

    Attempts on target

    • Wolves 5
    • Liverpool 10

    Attempts off target

    • Wolves 7
    • Liverpool 5

    Corners

    • Wolves 5
    • Liverpool 4

    Fouls

    • Wolves 6
    • Liverpool 17
    • Final Result
    • Full Time
    • 90:00+3:20 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
    • 90:00+2:56 The assistant referee signals for offside against Fernando Torres. Wayne Hennessey takes the free kick.
    • Correction - 90:00+0:19 GOAL - Fernando TorresWolverhampton 0 - 3 Liverpool Goal scored by Fernando Torres from inside the six-yard box high into the middle of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-3 Liverpool.
    • 90:00+0:19 The assist for the goal came from Dirk Kuyt.
    • 90:00+0:19 GOAL - Fernando TorresWolverhampton 0 - 3 Liverpool A goal is scored by Fernando Torres from inside the six-yard box high into the middle of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-3 Liverpool.
    • 87:16 Effort on goal by Steven Fletcher from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
    • 84:59 Unfair challenge on Kevin Doyle by Raul Meireles results in a free kick. Karl Henry restarts play with the free kick.
    • 84:59 Booking Raul Meireles receives a caution.
    • 83:53 Steven Fletcher has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide left of the target.
    • 82:58 Fernando Torres takes a shot. Wayne Hennessey makes a save.
    • 81:58 Leiva Lucas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin Doyle. Free kick taken by Adam Hammill.
    • 80:09 Substitution Fabio Aurelio replaces Rodriguez Maxi.
    • 78:23 The ball is crossed by Nenad Milijas, Header on goal by Kevin Doyle from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
    • 74:06 The ball is delivered by Nenad Milijas, Christophe Berra produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.
    • 73:16 Effort from inside the area by Jonjo Shelvey misses to the left of the goal.
    • 71:38 Free kick awarded for a foul by Rodriguez Maxi on Stephen Hunt. Wayne Hennessey takes the free kick.
    • 71:38 Substitution Jonjo Shelvey comes on in place of Christian Poulsen.
    • 71:38 Substitution Adam Hammill replaces Stephen Hunt.
    • 69:23 Rodriguez Maxi takes a shot. Save by Wayne Hennessey.
    • 68:41 Stephen Ward produces a cross, Headed effort from inside the box by Stephen Hunt misses to the right of the target.
    • 67:44 Raul Meireles has an effort at goal from 18 yards. Save by Wayne Hennessey.
    • 66:40 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Stephen Hunt from the right by-line.
    • 65:16 Steven Fletcher takes a shot. Save by Jose Reina.
    • 63:45 Corner taken right-footed by Raul Meireles, Steven Fletcher makes a clearance.
    • 62:24 Martin Skrtel concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Fletcher. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Nenad Milijas, save made by Jose Reina.
    • 61:57 Stephen Ward fouled by Dirk Kuyt, the ref awards a free kick. Wayne Hennessey restarts play with the free kick.
    • 61:20 Foul by Karl Henry on Leiva Lucas, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jose Reina.
    • 58:10 Inswinging corner taken by Matthew Jarvis from the left by-line.
    • 56:19 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Matthew Jarvis, save by Jose Reina.
    • 54:39 Effort on goal by Ronald Zubar from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.
    • 53:16 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nenad Milijas by Leiva Lucas. Stephen Hunt produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, Leiva Lucas gets a block in.
    • 52:10 The ball is swung over by Stephen Ward, Christian Poulsen makes a clearance.
    • 51:24 Kevin Doyle fouled by Martin Skrtel, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Matthew Jarvis, Daniel Agger manages to make a clearance.
    • 49:37 GOAL - Raul MeirelesWolverhampton 0 - 2 Liverpool Raul Meireles fires in a goal from outside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-2 Liverpool.
    • 49:08 Steven Fletcher gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Christian Poulsen. Direct free kick taken by Daniel Agger.
    • 48:43 Dirk Kuyt takes a shot. Save made by Wayne Hennessey.
    • 47:07 Shot from just outside the penalty area by Raul Meireles misses to the left of the target.
    • 45:37 A cross is delivered by Matthew Jarvis, save by Jose Reina.
    • 45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
    • Half Time
    • 45:00+2:47 The first half comes to an end.
    • 45:00+2:24 Matthew Jarvis takes a shot. Blocked by Martin Skrtel.
    • 45:00+1:21 Stephen Ward fouled by Fernando Torres, the ref awards a free kick. Matthew Jarvis crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing.
    • 45:00+1:21 Booking Fernando Torres receives a yellow card.
    • 44:21 Foul by Martin Kelly on Stephen Hunt, free kick awarded. The ball is sent over by Stephen Hunt, Nenad Milijas takes a shot. Save by Jose Reina.
    • 43:06 The assistant referee flags for offside against Ronald Zubar. Jose Reina restarts play with the free kick.
    • 41:19 Shot from just outside the box by Rodriguez Maxi misses to the right of the target.
    • 40:15 The assistant referee signals for offside against Rodriguez Maxi. Free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.
    • 38:52 Richard Stearman fouled by Fernando Torres, the ref awards a free kick. Wayne Hennessey takes the free kick.
    • 38:39 Steven Fletcher takes a shot. Save by Jose Reina.
    • 37:34 Raul Meireles has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.
    • 35:53 Raul Meireles provided the assist for the goal.
    • 35:53 GOAL - Fernando TorresWolverhampton 0 - 1 Liverpool A goal is scored by Fernando Torres from close in low into the middle of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-1 Liverpool.
    • 34:54 Fernando Torres gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Hunt. Free kick crossed by Stephen Hunt.
    • 34:18 Rodriguez Maxi takes a shot. Wayne Hennessey makes a save.
    • 31:58 Raul Meireles produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.
    • 29:38 Leiva Lucas challenges Karl Henry unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.
    • 29:18 Kevin Doyle is caught offside. Jose Reina takes the free kick.
    • 28:11 Christophe Berra gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Raul Meireles. Free kick taken by Daniel Agger.
    • 23:51 Foul by Daniel Agger on Kevin Doyle, free kick awarded. Strike comes in from Nenad Milijas from the free kick.
    • 22:28 Fernando Torres gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Richard Stearman. Free kick crossed left-footed by Nenad Milijas, Leiva Lucas manages to make a clearance.
    • 21:00 Fernando Torres takes a shot. Save by Wayne Hennessey.
    • 20:00 Leiva Lucas is adjudged to have handled the ball. Wayne Hennessey takes the direct free kick.
    • 19:26 Corner from the left by-line taken by Raul Meireles, save by Wayne Hennessey.
    • 18:56 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Raul Meireles played to the near post.
    • 16:28 Christophe Berra challenges Fernando Torres unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Raul Meireles from right channel, clearance made by Daniel Agger.
    • 15:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rodriguez Maxi by Ronald Zubar. Free kick taken by Daniel Agger.
    • 14:06 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Matthew Jarvis played to the near post, clearance made by Dirk Kuyt.
    • 10:28 Ronald Zubar concedes a free kick for a foul on Rodriguez Maxi. Direct free kick taken by Jose Reina.
    • 9:27 Fernando Torres concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Stearman. Free kick crossed by Nenad Milijas, clearance made by Daniel Agger.
    • 8:06 Christian Poulsen takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Stearman.
    • 5:58 Steven Fletcher is caught offside. Daniel Agger restarts play with the free kick.
    • 3:18 Christian Poulsen concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Ward. Free kick taken by Nenad Milijas.
    • 3:18 Booking Christian Poulsen is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
    • 2:34 Raul Meireles takes a inswinging corner to the near post.
    • 0:31 Nenad Milijas fouled by Fernando Torres, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Matthew Jarvis, save by Jose Reina.
    • 0:00 The referee gets the game started.

    Live text and data provided by The Press Association.



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    Barclays Premier League table snapshot

    As it stood on 22 Jan 2011 23:59 UK

    Position Team P GD PTS
    1 Man Utd 22 29 48
    2 Arsenal 23 26 46
    3 Man City 24 17 45
    4 Chelsea 22 19 38
    5 Tottenham 23 6 38
    6 Sunderland 24 4 37
    7 Newcastle 23 3 30
    8 Bolton 23 3 30
    9 Stoke 23 0 30
    10 Liverpool 23 -1 29
    11 Blackpool 22 -6 28
    12 Blackburn 23 -8 28
    13 Everton 23 -2 27
    14 Fulham 23 0 26
    15 West Brom 22 -12 25
    16 Aston Villa 23 -14 25
    17 Birmingham 22 -10 23
    18 Wigan 23 -18 22
    19 Wolves 23 -17 21
    20 West Ham 24 -19 21

    see also
    Dalglish hails Torres & Meireles
    22 Jan 11 |  Premier League
    Live - Saturday's football
    22 Jan 11 |  Football
    Saturday's football photos
    22 Jan 11 |  Football
    Wonder strike killed us - McCarthy
    22 Jan 11 |  Wolves