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Mick McCarthy denounced Liverpool by deeming them worthy of a full-strength Wolves’ team but he was to be the recipient of the gravest insult at Anfield last night. The Midlanders were comfortably on course to compound Rafael Benítez’s problems ahead of league games with Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur when they were harshly reduced to 10 men by referee Andre Marriner. Unfortunately for McCarthy, he cannot pick and choose his match officials at will, and Liverpool took full advantage of the gift on offer. Benítez will know this was a reprieve.

Until Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun capitalised this was another arduous ordeal for Liverpool and the weary Anfield faithful. Retaining possession in defence with the game goalless while posing precious little threat in attack amounts to controlling a contest in the eyes of Benítez, or at least that was the conclusion from the defence he presented for the abysmal loss at Portsmouth last weekend. On that basis the Liverpool manager must have been satisfied with the opening half against McCarthy’s side for there was no dramatic improvement in tempo, invention or belief from the home side.

A full league debut for the Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani, four months on from his £18m arrival from Roma and two months after his first appearance for the club, encouraged thoughts of more urgency and accuracy to Liverpool’s game. Gerrard, whose struggle to recapture his usual heights after injury had prompted one-to-one talks with Benítez before the game, must also have believed his waning influence – arguably a direct result of the passes drying up from the areas Xabi Alonso used to frequent – would be restored. For 45 minutes, however, that was a forlorn hope, and derision was audible among the home crowd long before Marriner called a halt.

Aquilani was occasionally bright but often anonymous, as was to be expected of a central midfielder who has played little in this calendar year either in Italy or England but could benefit from Benítez’s protection policy no longer with Javier Mascherano beginning a four-match suspension. His first contribution augured well when he won the ball cleanly in midfield to enable Gerrard to test Marcus Hahnemann in the Wolves goal with the opening shot of the match. Seconds later, Fernando Torres retrieved an over-hit pass from Emiliano Insua inside the penalty area and toyed with Richard Stearman mercilessly before stinging Hahnemann’s palms with a rising drive.

Wolves were largely content to invite the home side forwards, but on the break they unnerved Liverpool. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was the first to inject doubt into the Liverpool defence when, from Matthew Jarvis’s run and cross from the left, he turned Jamie Carragher at the near post only for José Reina to smother his low shot.

Nenad Milijas was a frequent threat from the edge of the Liverpool area, although the Serbian international’s accuracy failed to match his adventure, and Wolves ought to have led after Reina tipped a goal-bound free-kick from the midfielder over his bar. Milijas’s resulting corner was sent straight at Liverpool’s achilles – the near post – and from three yards out, unmarked and with Ebanks-Blake also waiting to convert, Kevin Doyle somehow headed high and wide of the target.

A moribund event ignited in the 52nd minute when Liverpool capitalised on a foolish back-heel by the Wolves midfielder Jarvis and Lucas sprinted clear of Stephen Ward. The Brazilian was clear of the visiting left-back but took advantage of a touch in the back to launch into a theatrical forward-roll. Referee Marriner instantly pulled a yellow card from his pocket but took an age to book Ward who, he eventually appeared to realise, had received a yellow card four minutes earlier for pulling back Benayoun. Marriner seemed reluctant to book Ward at all cost and punished Christophe Berra for kicking the ball away before being alerted to his mistake by a delegation led by Lucas and Reina. After a prolonged wait, Ward walked, a victim of his own foolishness, Lucas and the inconsistency of a referee who had earlier only spoken to Gerrard for a poor challenge on Berra.

Wolves’ previously comfortably resistance shattered. Gerrard rose above Milijas to meet Insúa’s immaculate cross with a classic centre-forward’s header 10 minutes after the dismissal. From another inviting delivery by the Argentinian, Benayoun was granted the freedom of the visiting area to make the game safe with a close-range shot that deflected off Karl Henry and through the grasp of Hahnemann.

THE FANS’ PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

Stephanie Jones, Observer reader It was a win, which was good, and we didn’t concede a goal, which was great. Once they were down to 10 there didn’t seem any doubt we’d win and it was Insúa’s endeavour that made the first goal. Then the match settled and we passed it around . It was ludicrous that the ref needed help from three yards away on the sending-off. I give Reina a 10 for coming all the way up the pitch and helping him do his job. Aquilani was great, worked really hard and hopefully we’ll see more of that.

The fan’s player ratings Reina 10; Johnson 6, Carragher 7, Agger 7, Insúa 6; Lucas 8, Aquilani 8 (Pacheco 84 8); Benayoun 8 (Spearing 88 n/a), Gerrard 7, Aurélio 6 (Kuyt 76 6); Torres 6

Arthur Williams, Observer reader Until the sending-off – which was justified – we made Liverpool look fairly ordinary. I thought we might at least get a draw, so it’s a pity. McCarthy will be disappointed with Ward’s foolishness and the result, but not the performance overall. I think we had the better of the first half. Reina made a disgraceful run from one end of the pitch to the other – I don’t know why he thought he had to do the ref’s job. Disappointing not to get something out of what looked quite promising.

The fan’s player ratings Hahnemann 8; Stearman 8, Craddock 7, Berra 7, Ward 7; Foley 5, Henry 6, Milijas 6 (Mancienne 62 6) Jarvis 8; Doyle 6 (Elokobi 58 5), Ebanks-Blake 6 (Iwelumo 66 6)

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Premier LeagueLiverpoolWolverhampton WanderersAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk