Classy Reds tame the Wolves
Liverpool recorded their first Barclays Premier League victory of 2012 with an emphatic 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Tuesday night.
After an end-to-end first half, Andy Carroll opened the scoring on 52 minutes when he turned Charlie Adam's cross home at the back post courtesy of a well-taken finish.
Craig Bellamy quickly doubled the Reds' lead when he found the back of the net with a low effort from the edge of the area for his ninth of the season so far.
Dirk Kuyt sealed the win with his 50th Liverpool league goal when he fired home from a tight angle following a quick-fire counter attack.
Liverpool continued to create chances as they dominated the closing stages, and although they were unable to find a fourth, the result was enough to move them into fifth place in the table.
The Reds made the journey to Molineux aiming to build upon a week that had seen them progress to the Carling Cup final at the expense of Manchester City while also eliminating Manchester United from the FA Cup at Anfield.
Kenny Dalglish made five changes to the side he selected against United with Adam, Glen Johnson, Jay Spearing and Craig Bellamy joining Saturday's match-winner Kuyt in the starting XI.
With the Reds looking for a first Barclays Premier League win of 2012, the game kicked-off in chilly conditions in the Midlands and Kuyt almost picked up where he left off when he went close to opening the scoring inside three minutes.
Carroll's knockdown from Bellamy's cross caused havoc inside the Wolves box, and Liverpool's No.18 almost capitalised but he could not manage to turn the ball past Wayne Hennessey from close range.
It was a bright opening from the visitors, but Pepe Reina was forced to make a reflex save with 12 minutes on the clock when Michael Kightly's delivery from the right was hooked goalwards on the slide by David Edwards which was collected by the Liverpool goalkeeper.
The pair then combined once more moments later, but this time Edwards headed well over from a free-kick.
Then, on 20 minutes, Jordan Henderson's through ball sent Bellamy scampering towards goal, however the striker was only able to poke wide under pressure from Hennessey and Roger Johnson.
Liverpool were beginning to increase the pressure - and only a sprawling stop from Hennessey prevented Daniel Agger from opening the scoring when the Dane rose highest to divert a header goalwards from Bellamy's corner.
Next, Adam scuffed wide when well positioned having carried the ball to the edge of the Wolves box from halfway.
Back came the hosts and Steven Fletcher fired a header narrowly over the crossbar from Kightly's corner just before the half-hour mark.
With 10 minutes of the first half remaining, Charlie Adam saw penalty appeals waved away when he went down just inside the box under the challenge of Emmanuel Frimpong, before Bellamy's curling free-kick drew a full-length save out of Hennessey.
The chances continued to come for both teams, and the lively Kightly went close when a one-two with Fletcher on the edge of the box resulted in the winger volleying inches wide.
In first-half stoppage-time, Henderson's low strike was gathered by Hennessey as the game remained goalless at the break.
However, seven minutes into the second period Liverpool took the lead when Adam's precise cross from the left picked out Carroll's run to the back post, and the No.9 made no mistake with a smart finish for his fifth goal of the campaign so far.
And one quickly became two as Bellamy found the back of the net on 61 minutes.
Collecting Spearing's pass deep inside the Wolves half, the Wales forward scampered up the left-flank before cutting inside onto the edge of the box where he slid a low show into the bottom corner that Hennessey was unable to keep out despite getting a hand to the ball.
The goal was Bellamy's ninth of the campaign and not only did it take him to the top of the club's leading scorers chart for the season so far, it also meant he equalled his total from his previous spell at Anfield in 2006-07.
Liverpool were now firmly in the ascendancy and after Adam acrobatically volleyed Henderson's cross over, Agger headed millimetres wide from a corner.
Hennessey then produced a stunning save to turn a deflected Kuyt effort over the bar - but the Dutchman wasn't to be denied.
A lightening-speed counter-attack sprung by Enrique resulted in the Dutchman swapping passes with Adam on the edge of the Wolves box before drilling in a milestone strike for the Reds on 78 minutes.
It was also the 500th league goal Liverpool have scored under the management of Dalglish and 700th in all competitions.
With time ticking away, Jonjo Shelvey and Jamie Carragher were introduced into the action, with the latter going third in the club's all-time appearance makers list overtaking the legendary Emlyn Hughes on a highly satisfying night for Liverpool.
Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Andy Carroll