England midfielder Steven Gerrard came off the bench in the 81st minute for his first Premier League match since March as Liverpool beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 on Saturday.
Gerrard had a 25-yard (meter) attempt on goal for host Liverpool with a dipping volley which bounced wide at Anfield.
Earlier, an own goal in the 11th from Wolves' Roger Johnson - heading in Charlie Adam's shot - and another impressive strike by Luis Suarez in the 38th gave Liverpool a comfortable 2-0 lead at halftime.
Steven Fletcher pulled one back early in the second half for Wolves but Liverpool held on to end a two-match losing run.
With defeats against Stoke and a 4-0 humiliation at Tottenham last weekend, Liverpool was keen to avoid a third successive loss which would have marked its worst run since 2003.
Stewart Downing's lay-off saw Scotland midfielder Adam unleash a 25-yard shot which was unintentionally diverted past Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey by Johnson's diving header.
Andy Carroll had a chance for his first Premier League goal this season with a free header from Downing's corner but planted the ball straight at Hennessey.
Liverpool defender Jose Enrique lifted a ball over the top of the Wolves defense and Suarez timed his run perfectly to collect, turn Christophe Berra inside then out before firing a shot inside the near post for 2-0.
Fletcher gave Wolves hope in the 49th after smashing in a shot from Stephen Hunt's cutback after goalkeeper Pepe Reina and Martin Skrtel got in the way of each other.
Carroll headed against a post while Hennessey made yet another vital block to deny Downing, who should have scored after Liverpool broke quickly on the counter-attack.
The long-awaited appearance of Gerrard - who made a brief substitute appearance in Liverpool's midweek 3-1 League Cup victory at Exeter - finally arrived with nine minutes left.
Gerrard, who has recovered from a groin injury, replaced an exhausted Suarez.
