Boxing Day Liveblog Triple-Header, Part 3: Liverpool V Wolves

Camon the Wolves!

Afternoon blog fiends, I hope you had a splendid Christmas Day? You did? Super! I had a smashing day watching kids scream, play and make a mess. Then I cooked the usual fare and washed up by hand as the dishwasher packed up; screw you LG.

Today has been wonderful already, Norwich won 2-0 at home to Millwall and Charlton drew and we all know what that means don’t we? Yep, that’s right folks…Norwich could go second in League One on Monday. Get IN!

Ok, back to the EPL and today’s triple-header. Get IN the tripple-header! Liverpool v Wolves is the game and my second Wolves live blog in a week or so. My prediction league is not panning out how I wanted it to today so I need a Liverpool draw or defeat to reap the rewards in that and thus, I am sorry JT, I’m root, root, rooting for Wolves.

Join me after the jump for the team news and the final installment of today’s livebloggery.

So far in the EPL there have been FIVE draws today! Bongo held Chelsea at 0-0, Sunderland and Everton tied 1-1, Fulham and Spurs finished 0-0, Wigan and Blackburn was 1-1 and so was Burnley and Bolton. The only winners of morning were Wet Spam who beat Pompey 2-0.

On to Anfield…

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Aurelio, Insua, Carragher, Aquilani, Gerrard, Benayoun, Lucas, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Darby, Skrtel, Spearing, Kuyt, Ngog, Pacheco.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hahnerman, Stearman, Craddock, Ward, Berra, Foley, Henry, Jarvis, Milijas, Ebanks-Blake, Doyle. Subs: Hennessey, Elokobi, Mancienne, Surman, Castillo, Iwelumo, Maierhofer.

—–

Aqua-man!! An Alberto Aquilani sighting! The Italian’s first start of the season after a 20 million quid transfer.

Wolves are set to line up in a 4-4-2.

Constant Sylvania HD TV adverts are driving me nuts, they say “watch soccer in HD on your Sylvania TV” and they only advetise on FSC who are NOT in HD. Idiots…

Players are on the pitch, Liverpool fans are praying and their team is looking at Aquilani as if to say ‘who the f@ck are you?

Lets go…

1: Right from the kick off Liverpool win a free kick but Aurelio hits it weakly to the right of Hahnerman and the American keeper grabs it with ease.

4: Rafa got a new tie for Xmas, first time I’ve seen him wearing a blue one. Aquliani tries to set Gerrad away but Ward gets there first and smack the ball into Gerrards face.

5: Carragher makes a run down the right and feeds the advancing Glenn Johnson who confuses his cross with a shot and the ball heads out wide. Liverpool looking lively, Aquaman especially, Gerrard immediately receives a Lucas ball after some good work by Aquaman from the Wolves goal kick and his shot is saved well by Hahnerman who is sporting a goatee that makes him look like ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.

7: Torres tries to turn the Wolves defense inside out before having his shot deflected. Gerrard’s resulting corner is cleared. Liverpool are trying to tale this game by the balls early before Wolves settle.

10: All Liverpool here, they are trying to use the space and are spraying the passes well, trying to find a way through the Wolves defense.

12: Aurelio left foot cross from wide right and Torres makes it there first but head the ball up in the air and out towards row z. Goal kick. Wolves just cannot keep the football and Liverpool just keep bringing it back for more of the same.

15: Milijas looks nervous and is scared to play forward so plays back to Henry who is caught in possession. Aurelio gets wide and crosses, Wolves clear. Mick McCarthy’s men have not settled yet and they need to fast, they have had no possession and will be a goal down soon if they don’t get a grip on the game. All ‘Pool.

18: Wolves finall have the ball in the Liverpool box but Stearmans headed knock down is blasted high, wide and not very handsome by Milijas. But Wolves showed there that they can find some space around the box when they can get it wide and cross.

20: Berra is just about handling Torres in the box as Liverpool look to find the Spaniard again. Wolves are settling a bit now but have no control of the game in midfield where Aquaman is having his way.

22: Wolves break and Jarvis runs 40 yards before beating Johnson and getting a cross in. Blake turns and finds room for a shot from 6 yards but Reina is equal to it. A shot from nothing that, well created. Wolves are finding their feet now.

24: Doyle is fouled and Milijas takes the free kick. A super shot is heading into the corner and Reina pushes away for a corner. Doyle heads the cross wide.

26: Wolves are now starting to make use of their width and having a spell of possession. The ball breaks for Milijas at the end of the box but he hits hos shot wide. Should have done better there, the Serb midfielder.

29: Wolves are starting to really move the ball now and Lucas is forced into a foul to stop the ball breaking to Jarvis after Ward played a one, two. Wolves take it quickly and Liverpool get the ball back as Milijas gives it away.

30: Torres has the ball in the net and its a lovely chip over the racing Hahnerman BUT the Liverpool forward was offside and it won’t count.

32: Agger and Blake tangle as the young forward chases the ball down the right and referee Andre Mariner gives Agger the ball. Free kick.

36: Even game now. Wolves are using Ward and Jarvis to good effect down the left and Aquaman looks lively when he gets it in the middle. Liverpool will have to watch Ebanks-Blake, the young lad has only seen the ball twice in this half but he is always running and looking to turn into the box.  Liverpool fans are anxious.

38: Wolves are having a bit of a spell, they turn good defending in to good possession. something they couldn’t do for the first 20 mins or so. They are growing in confidence as the minutes pass and Mick McCarthy will be delighted with how they are raising their game now.

39: A long Wolves ball finds Foley ALONE on the right, in the box, but he can’t fashion a shot and lifts the ball back across the goal. Reiner recovers.

44: Wolves break as Johnson gives the ball away at the edge of the Wolves box. McCarthy’s men surge out and find themselves 5 on 3 at the other end but cannot create a chance and Liverpool clear. At the other end Johnson muscles his way through Berra and slams a volley at Hahnerman.

45: 1 min stoppage time at the end of the half..

45 +1: Wolves free kick into the box and cleared.

HALF TIME.

Liverpool started lively and Wolves looked nervous but by the end of the half, Wolves had flipped that scenario and were making Liverpool nervous. Wolves gre in confidence and even started passing the ball out of defense instead of clearing the ball and giving it away. Aquaman was very imoressive when he had the ball and his passing is superb. He seems to be able to get and give the ball very quickly and accurately.

Rafa will need to get Pool going now as Wolves have settled and will not fear Liverpool in the second half at all.

Back shortly.

Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 looks rubbish, yet I have to take the little man to see it later (groan).

24c a minute to call my friends in Ethiopia? RESULT!

Warren Barton, blah, blah, blah.

Alright, Rafa has thrown his tea cups around and we are ready for the second half. Will Wolves pick up where they left off? Will the Liverpool fans get on their hero’s backs? Will Aquaman save the day? So many questions! The players are ready, Andre Mariner is ready, I’m ready….45 mins to save Rafa’s job? Maybe…They are OFF.

46: Gerrad has been late 3 times in this game and Mariner gives him a talking to. Wolves send the ball up the other end and Liverpool bring it away.

47: Liverpool have started the second like they started the first. Stephen ward is given a yellow card after a foul I didn’t see as the close up cameras missed it.

49:  Milijas gets his head to a cross but sends the ball wide.

51: Gerrard gets the ball at the edge of the box after some good passing and fires a rocket at goal. Hahnerman saves but give ‘Pool a corner which heads out for a goal kick.

52: Ward is sent off after pulling down Lucas as the Brazilian headed towards goal, Mariner nearly makes a pigs ear of it as he shows Berra the card but after a chat with the lino, he shows the right man,Ward, the second yellow and off he goes. Wolves down to 10.

Well, that’s spoiled the game a bit, Wolves will now surely bolt up the back door and try to leave Anfield with their point.

56: Foley is playing at right back now as Ebanks-Blake plays up top on his own. There is a spell of ‘pinball’ as the ball is fired at goal 3 times from 18 yards or so and blocked by a Wolves body each time.

58: Doyle off for Elokobi and that means Foley back into the his right middle spot and George Elokobi into Wards spot at right back. Blake will play alone up top.

62: GOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Gerrard. It’s been coming. Insua sends a cross in from the left and Gerrard rises above Milijas and heads home. Milijas should have done better.

63: Milijas is off and Mancienne is on. Surely Wolves should have made this substitution before the goal. Pointless after. Midfielder off for a center back.

Theres been a lot in the papers this week about Gerrard not performing and how Rafa had to have a ‘heart to heart’ with his captain, well that answered the question. All Liverpool now I may as well just type that for every entry as this game is DONE.

67: But wait! Iwelumo is on..Wolves are saved! No, they ain’t but Iwelumo is a target man and that means Wolves will lump the ball forward now and hope to get something. Ebanks-Blake is the man making way.

69: Mancienne pumps a free kick into the box from the half way line but Liverpool bring it away and resume dominance.

70: GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL

Benayoun for Liverpool. Ball breaks to the Israeli midfielder in the box on the right and he drags it on to his left foot before dispatching a high shot that looked as if it deflected off of Henry before finding the net.

Liverpool 2 Wolves 0.

72: Kuyt is coming on momentarily.

73: Gerrard is fed at the edge of the area and he takes a touch before shooting. Hahnerman saves comfortably.

76: Aurelio off, for Kuyt.

78: Cross from Kuyt finds Benayoun in the box but he heads over.

80: Liverpool, Liverpool, Liverpool. ALL LIVERPOOL.

82: Pacheco is stripping off. Who will come of for the young Spaniard? Exciting to dwell on such possibilities.

Aquaman?

84: Wolves waste possession. Long ball to Iwelumo on edge of the box, back to Stearman, back to Mancienne, back to goal. Hoof from Hahnerman, Liverpool bring the ball back. Jesus!

85: Pacheco on for Aquaman. Crowd claps.

88: Liverpool really stretching Wolves and if they really want a third, they shall have one.

Benayoun OFF, Spearing ON.

91: 4 mins of stoppage time. Corner for Pool, headed out by Berra.

93: Liverpool seeing this one out with some ‘keep ball’. Passing it around with ease.

94: No urgency at all now. Liverpool just probing around the box, looking for an easy chance to present itself.

FULL TIME. There it is folks.

Liverpool 2 Wolves 0.

Ward’s second yellow ruined this game after a good first half. I’m off to Alvin 2. OOOF.