Liverpool suffered a severe blow to their hopes of securing
Champions League football as they drew 0-0 against Wolves at
Molineux.
The Reds actually moved above Manchester City on goal
difference into fifth spot with a share of the spoils but have
played two games more.
In contrast, it was a precious point for Wolves in their
battle to stay in the top flight.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, whose agent has played down
reports linking the Spaniard with a move to Juventus, saw his side
dominate the opening 45 minutes in terms of possession.
But, in the absence of the injured Fernando Torres, they
lacked a decisive cutting edge despite the return after a hamstring
injury of skipper Steven Gerrard who was well policed by Michael
Mancienne.
McCarthy opted for a change of formation with record signing
Kevin Doyle the only striker in a 4-5-1 formation and they
frustrated the Reds throughout the first 45 minutes with veteran
defender Jody Craddock outstanding.
But after the break Wolves played with increasing belief and
fluency and it was their turn to enjoy large spells of territorial
dominance.
Doyle was a constant menace with his pace and power
unsettling the Reds rearguard despite often being outnumbered.
Liverpool, who had taken 10 points from the previous four
games, were quickly into their stride.
Gerrard's second minute corner was met by the head of Albert
Riera at the near post but his effort flashed across the Wolves
box.
Dirk Kuyt, bubbling with confidence after his double against
Tottenham, tried his luck from 20 yards out but Craddock was able
to make an important block.
Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina was booed every time he touched
the ball by Wolves fans who remembered his part in the incident
when Stephen Ward was sent off at Anfield on Boxing Day.
Liverpool enjoyed the lion's share of possession but Wolves
coped comfortably and the best chance of the opening half fell to
Doyle after 33 minutes in a Wolves counter-attack.
Jamie Carragher was isolated in the right-back role and
unable to prevent Matt Jarvis from getting past him and sending in
a low cross to the near post.
Doyle made a run across the Reds defence to attack the ball
at the near post but poked his shot just wide.
Jarvis was posing the biggest threat for Wolves and another
teasing centre picked out the run of Kevin Foley at the far post
but his header was directed straight at Reina.
Christophe Berra got in a great challenge to halt the run of
Maxi Rodriguez into the Wolves box at the expense of a corner just
before half-time.
Gerrard was a peripheral figure for most of the first half
but threatened after the restart when he seized onto a ball in
behind from Lucas Leiva only for Berra to be alert to the
situation.
Marcus Hahnemann had to be alert when backpedalling to palm
away a looping first time effort from the edge of the area by
Riera.
Ward then almost played the home team into trouble with a
mis-timed back pass but Hahnemann raced 20 yards out of his box to
clear from Kuyt.
Doyle was impressing whenever Wolves ventured forward but
would have been disappointed not to hit the target after he found
some space outside the box.
Wolves were playing with increasing fluency and the belief
was starting to grow amongst their young players.
Kuyt curled a 20-yard shot past the post after Gerrard
enjoyed some rare freedom and the game was more of an entertaining
spectacle.
Benitez made his first substitution after 67 minutes with
David Ngog replacing Riera and Kuyt moving into a wider role.
The impressive Doyle drilled a left-foot shot past the post
after getting past Martin Skrtel.
Skrtel was booked after 73 minutes for a lunge at Ward.
McCarthy replaced Nenad Milijas with David Jones a minute
later.
Late on Wolves' David Jones had a shot blocked and
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher fired wide from 30 yards.
