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Our star-gazing scribes crash to earth as Premier League punditry falls below expectations

We hate to say we told you so. So it is with great relief that guardian.co.uk/sport today declares: we didn’t tell you so. We predicted that Liverpool would win the Premier League and, er, that proved about as shrewd as your average Rafa Benítez signing.

But let us refine our definition of ‘we’. Our pre-season predictions were the aggregate of the forecasts of a dozen scribes, so under our collective brolly some prescient folks jostled with the wallies. However, in the spirit of solidarity which has long been synonymous with the Guardian, we shall refrain from publicly naming those who tainted the others. Internally, of course, a severe beating has been administered to Jamie Jackson.

Andy Hunter was assigned the task of writing the preview and it was clear that he felt our prophesy could be fulfilled only if Benítez got busy in the remaining weeks of the transfer window. “Xabi Alonso represents a serious loss,” noted Andy. “Should [Alberto] Aquilani overcome his injury problems and settle instantly – a prerequisite with the title at stake – a forward of the calibre of Valencia’s David Silva arrive and defensive cover in the form of Sylvain Distin, for example, be brought in, then Benítez will have achieved his summer goals and Liverpool will embark on the new campaign wiser and stronger. The title may rest on Benítez’s next moves in the transfer market.”

Many posters were more strident: “First? No chance,” scoffed eljezabel. “They only have one recognised (ie talented) striker. They’ll do well to finish above Arsenal and there’s no way they’re coming second.” But someone called Prawns was more upbeat about Liverpool’s chances, thundering, entirely wrongly, as it turned out, that: “The nonsense about over-reliance on them [Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard] is wide of the mark and bordering on far-fetched.”

“I don’t see why Liverpool finishing first is so implausible,” agreed SteveH (or was it G?). “They only finished four points adrift last season and finished the season by far the better team, scoring 32 goals in their last 10 games to Man U’s 20. Obviously Torres and Gerrard are important to their title challenge but they still beat Man U and Chelsea without them. If they can turn just a few of those 0-0 draws into wins then they’re definitely in for a shot.”

As for the winners, our combined soothsaying put Chelsea in second place, though, again, the person charged with writing the preview was not so sure about that prediction: “[Ancelotti] has, as yet, been denied the ‘marquee signing’ both the owner, Roman Abramovich, and the captain, John Terry, had been seeking, yet there is still enough ammunition in the squad to sustain a challenge,” wrote Dominic Fifield who like Amy Lawrence and, ahem, myself, tipped them to be champions.

“There is nothing to suggest they will not be contenders,” concluded Dominic, despite dissent from many posters, including Indrossi, who snorted: “A new manager, one new signing and a decrepit, ageing team that’s one year older from last year when their manager said that ‘this was this group’s last chance to win the Champions League’ – and you’re quoting them Premier League winners?”

Manchester United finished second. That, I admit, is within the top four so, from a nitpicker’s point of view – I was wrong when I said that they would miss out on the Champions League spots. The combined Guardian prediction placed them third, though once again the author of the preview, Paul Wilson, did not concur with the consensus: “It is a jump to conclude that United will miss their most conspicuous asset to the extent that other teams are now favourites for the title,” wrote Paul.

“A somewhat self-centred Ronaldo did not always manage to galvanise the team in some of the big games last season and at no time during the league campaign that brought Sir Alex Ferguson a record-equalling 18th title was anyone remarking that United were a one-man team … a fourth consecutive domestic crown is possible, maybe even probable. But unless the Berbatov-Rooney axis can be very clever indeed, it is equally likely United will be rumbled again in Europe.”

Someone called Frameboy sounded very sure of himself when he summarised United’s chances as follows: “Two moody headcases and a benchwarmer up front, 106 year-old-Ryan Giggs and creaky old Paul Scholes in midfield, one and a half centre-backs and the manager losing it on Charity Shield [Community Shield] day? Fifth or sixth. Or lower – certainly lower than Man City and Fulham.”

I’m glad you brought Fulham up, Frameboy.

While many predicted a season of struggle for the Cottagers, owing to the additional demands of a Europa League place, the man entrusted with writing our preview was more on the ball. “We should never underestimate the expertise of Roy Hodgson,” wrote, oh look, it was me. And I added: “There are grounds for believing Fulham could surpass last term’s triumph.”

“You certainly have faith in Roy, which does help this ever-increasing worrier of a Fulham fan,” trembled Svencojones, who went on to list some of his causes for concern – and whinge about one of the revelations of the season, Bobby Zamora. “Nevland and Kamara …[scored] more than Zamora despite a 10th of the playing time. Yeah I know, he holds the ball up well. But he also missed a fair few sitters and despite getting massive backing from the Fulham faithful, decided to focus on the odd few who gave him stick.”

Doctoroncall contributed what turned out to be an excellent diagnosis: “Hodgson is a great tactician, if he can get more goals out of the strikers to add to the solid platform at the back I can see them doing well, especially in Europe.”

Complicating our previews was the fact that they, of course, had to be published long before the closure of the transfer window, meaning there was ample scope for squads to change. No side seemed to have a greater capacity to transform themselves in the space of a few weeks than oil-cash-powered Manchester City, meaning some of our scribes (specifically the one named Louise Taylor) reckoned they would be champions. Others were confident City would make a balls of their recruitment and writhe in mid table. All in all, however, we ranked them fourth. Collectively, we identified Arsenal as the team to make way for them.

Amy Lawrence did not share that view but nor was she convinced that Arsenal were ready to challenge for the title, surmising that would entail Arsène Wenger re-investing the windfall he got from City from the sales of Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor, which, she correctly deduced, he would not do. “If you think that will drag him into buying a job lot of monsters to do the team’s dirty work, you underestimate his exceptional bloody-mindedness,” warned Amy.

As for the relegation spots, is it wrong to big up our predictions that Hull and Pompey would go down?

“Phil Brown is the co-owner of a race-horse called Gifted Leader but all evidence of inspirational management seemed to have deserted him last spring as the impressive tactical acumen so evident in the autumn became imperceptibly clouded by the Hull manager’s overblown ego,” wrote Louise Taylor, who decried Hull’s scoring problems and, anticipating the sale of Michael Turner, foresaw defensive disintegration. “The cold reality on Humberside is that if Hull do not sign a few quick, clever, goal-poaching players they will be back in the Championship,” continued Louise. “And Brown can expect to be unemployed by Bonfire Night.”

According to the crystal ball that, rest assured, we have taken back to the shop, the third team to be relegated would be Wolves. Again, however, the person ordered to write our preview dissented – sort of. “It will be tough again this time but Wolves and Mick McCarthy should at least make a fight of it,” reckoned Stuart James.

Some Wolves fans couldn’t even muster confidence about that. “I can’t help feeling that 20th would be an optimistic placing for us,” howled DylanWolf. “Even in winning the Championship last year we went on an 11-game run with only one victory. The fact that we won the title after, for much of the time, looking so incredibly mediocre shows that any team out of the top half of the table could have been promoted. The fact that Wolves were the most consistent side still seems frankly incredible.”

Our predicted table (actual final positions in graphics)

1 Liverpool (7)

2 Chelsea (1)

3 Man Utd (2)

4 Man City (5)

5 Arsenal (3)

6 Everton (8)

7 Tottenham (4)

8 Aston Villa (6)

9 Sunderland (13)

10 Fulham (12)

11 West Ham (17)

12 Blackburn (10)

13 Bolton (14)

14 Stoke (11)

15 Wigan (16)

16 Burnley (18)

17 Birmingham (9)

18 Wolves (15)

19 Portsmouth (20)

20 Hull (19)

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Liquid football at Aston Villa, meltdown at Portsmouth and time for Gary Megson to look away as the season reaches the halfway point

Arsenal, 3rd, Bernard Azulay, GoonersDiary.blogspot.com

Expectations were inflated by an early-season glut of goals until Chelsea and injuries burst our bubble. But given that we were tipped as the team most likely to fall off our top-four perch, we can’t complain.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Alex Song and Tommie the Tank Vermaelen have been great, and Arshavin and Eduardo are bearing the goalscoring burden. No flops.

Happy with the gaffer? Many feel the big-eared European prize offers Arsène the best chance of glory. But whatever this season has in store, it’ll be one hell of an entertaining ride.

Who should he sign? I won’t be holding my breath, but an old-fashioned No9, a dominant keeper, and unless Diaby is going to do the business, a forceful personality to grab tight games by the scruff of the neck.

Latest links: Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux, striker); Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria, striker)

Aston Villa, 4th, Jonathan Pritchard, Observer reader

Something has really clicked. Reintroducing a fired-up Heskey, getting Downing fit and moving Milner into a central role have galvanised us. This new attacking potency, on top of an already very solid back four, has made it easy to dream of a top-four finish. We’ve a much stronger squad than last year and there’s no European distraction. Someone put me in a darkened room: I’m almost bullish.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Milner, Gabby, Dunne, Cuellar … I could go on. Sidwell is the only disappointment.

Happy with the gaffer? The way he sends out his teams ready to die for the club makes him a Holte End darling right now.

Who should he sign? We desperately need cover for Agbonlahor: a cheeky bid for a disaffected Bellamy might work?

Latest links: “I don’t see us signing anyone unless somebody leaves,” says Martin O’Neill .

Birmingham 8th, Kym Ypres-Smith, SmallHeathAlliance.com

It’s a marathon not a sprint, blah, blah… but so far it’s well exceeding expectations. To have 24 points by this stage is nearly Bluenose Heaven. There’s a long way to go and a whole transfer window to negotiate, but I’m cautiously optimistic.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Best: Stephen Carr, Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, Barry Ferguson and Lee Bowyer – the bad boy turned good. As for the worst: Cameron Jerome is often a banjo frantically looking for a cow’s backside.

Happy with the gaffer? Fantastically. There was whingeing about 4-5-1 at the start of the season, but we had a lot of injuries.

Latest links: Graham Dorrans (West Brom, midfield); Jan Novak (Kosice, striker); Giles Barnes (free agent, midfield).

Bolton, 18th, Shaun O’Gara, Supporters’ Club

Inconsistent performances, rumours of dressing-room unrest: it’s a very unhappy ship. We’re lacking in real quality – crying out for the likes of Okocha, Djorkaeff , Hierro, Campo, Diouf, Anelka and Stelios .

Star man and biggest underperformer? Gary Cahill, Lee Chung-yong and Ivan Klasnic have impressed. The worst? Taylor, Muamba, Knight, Robinson, Ricketts…

Happy with the gaffer? When he arrived we were in the bottom three fighting relegation. Two years and £40m later, we’re still there, with a far weaker squad. Our most unpopular manager since Phil Neal.

Who should he sign? A creative midfielder, an experienced centre-back, two full-backs, and Klasnic on a full-time deal.

Latest links: Matthew Kilgallon (Sheffield Utd, defender; Benjani (Man City, striker); Victor Moses (C Palace, winger).

Burnley, 13th, Jamie Smith, Observer reader

We’re still pinching ourselves at being in the division. Some of our defending hasn’t been good enough and we don’t seem to be learning from our mistakes, but we’re just delighted to be involved. I only hope we don’t “do a Hull” and freefall in the New Year.

Star man and biggest underperformer? The best: Tyrone Mears, Steven Fletcher and Stephen Jordan. Captain Steven Caldwell has struggled more than most to adapt, and some hairy moments from our goalkeeper Brian Jensen have cost us. Andre Bikey’s inconsistency is frustrating.

Happy with the gaffer? It’s been a steep learning curve for Owen Coyle and at times our attacking mentality has seemed naive. But we’re just hugely grateful for what he’s done: we hope he’ll be here for many years.

Who should he sign? An experienced centre-back. I’d also like a left-winger, and to see David Nugent’s loan extended.

Latest links: Jack Wilshere (Arsenal, midfield, loan); Matthew Kilgallon (Sheff Utd, defender); David Nugent (Portsmouth striker, permanent deal).

Chelsea, 1st, Karen Childs, Observer reader

A brilliant start, but it’s turning into a bumpy ride. The high point was the convincing victory at the Emirates; but then there was the defeat at Man City and our shocking defensive display at home to Apoel. But we’ve been given the ultimate Christmas gift: the draw against Inter. It’ll be a corker.

Star man and biggest underperformer? No flops. Drogba, Anelka and both Coles have all impressed so far.

Happy with the gaffer? We’re not chanting his name yet. He’s hard to read: disgruntled and grumpy, and that’s on a good day.

Who should he sign? David Villa.

Latest links: Angel Di María (Benfica, winger); Luís Fabiano (Sevilla, striker). But Carlo Ancelotti says he will “run around naked in the snow” if Chelsea sign a new forward.

Everton, 14th, Dave Anderson, Observer reader

We’ve again been torn apart by injuries, and the delays and confusion over the ground move have held us back. In that context, it’s easy to see why we’re struggling. We’ve had some really shocking results, though.

Star man and biggest underperformer? The Yobo/Distin partnership is totally chaotic. Cahill and Fellaini are struggling too. We badly, badly miss Mikel Arteta.

Happy with the gaffer? Wouldn’t have anyone else. He’s battling on.

Who should he sign? If some money turns up from somewhere, a creative midfielder, a centre-back (Lescott?), and a striker.

Latest links: Graham Dorrans (West Brom, midfield); Nicolai Larsen (Lyngby, gk – on trial); Ivan Rakitic (Schalke, midfield).

Fulham, 9th, David Lloyd, There’s Only One F In Fulham

It’s warming up nicely! Beating Liverpool and Man United on merit is a clear indication of real progress, and our top 10 spot suggests Premier League durability. And still being in the Europa League is a well-deserved bonus.

Star man and biggest underperformer? I guess we’ve seen the best and worst of Zamora, but, like others, he’s worked tirelessly and the goals are flowing – so he can justly give it back to the critical minority.

Happy with the gaffer? Sir Roy? Yes. A club like ours can’t aim for overnight world domination, but it can target steady improvement and then reap the benefit. Our eloquent gaffer has us all believing that the upward curve can be maintained. He’s improving our vocabularies, too.

Who should he sign? A fit striker to support/cover Big Bob.

Latest links: Therry Racon (Charlton, midfield); Victor Moses (Crystal Palace); Coulibaly Kafoumba (Nice, midfield).

Hull, 19th, Rick Skelton, HullCityOnline.com

So far, it’s what we expected. I didn’t think we’d make a dent on the top half but didn’t feel we’d be cast adrift either. We’ve done fine for the most part, and could stay up.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Jimmy Bullard has been the star, obviously, but Stephen Hunt has settled in nicely too and Kamikaze Kamil Zayatte continues to impress. Dean Marney looks worse by the week, though. Very few of our summer signings have made an impression.

Happy with the gaffer? He struggles on.

Who should he sign? We could do with a pair of full-backs, an all-action midfielder, a right-winger and a strike force. On a budget of next to nothing, that’s going to be difficult.

Latest links: Matthew Kilgallon (Sheff Utd, defender); Sol Campbell (free agent, defender). Chairman says focus is on selling players, not buying.

Liverpool, 7th, Steph Jones, Observer reader

So far, so grim. No one wanted last season to end, then this one started badly and has gone downhill since. The owners failed to invest as promised, and early defeats and injuries added to growing unrest.

Star man and biggest underperformer? A hard one. No one has been on top form for more than a game or two.

Happy with the gaffer? Benítez “gets” LFC: he’s building for the future and trying to win the title with no money. But in today’s game, he’ll probably be hounded out of the club he loves.

Who should he sign? We’re stuck until Hicks and Gillett go, and they should take the phone-in, Sky-generation fans who do nothing but berate the club with them. Of course we need a couple of new players, but we’ve got as much chance of that as we have of winning the league this season.

Latest links: Bruno Ecuele Manga (Angers, defender); Victor Moses (C Palace, winger); Erik Huseklepp (SK Brann, striker).

Manchester City, 6th, Robert O’Brien, Observer reader

A mixed bag: we’re electric going forward and terrible at the back. The formation Hughes played allowed teams to get at us.

Star man and biggest underperformer? The star: Tevez, for his direct swashbuckling style. The underperformer: Garry Cook – a disgraceful handling of Hughes’s departure.

Happy with the gaffer? Hughes was never the right man. It was nothing to do with overinflated expectations – he just wasn’t a good manager. Poor formations, poor team selections and failure to engage with star players: that’s his legacy. Mancini is ticking all the boxes. A maverick, an entertainer: something we’ve always appreciated at City.

Who should he sign? No one. We have a fine squad. We just need to tighten the defence.

Latest links: Maicon (defender), Mario Balotelli (striker, both Inter), ); Angel Di María (Benfica, winger).

Manchester United, 2nd, Shaun O’Donnell, Observer reader

It’s been good overall – the Fulham result was down to our threadbare defence, but we’re within touching distance of the top. I still feel we’ll push on and claim a record fourth consecutive title. The best bit so far: beating City at our place. The worst: being beaten by an average Liverpool team.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Stars: Patrice Evra – he plays every game as if it’s his last. And Darren Fletcher has forced one of the biggest reversals of fan opinion anyone can remember. The worst, sadly, is Nani.

Happy with the gaffer? To be where we are despite the injuries is good, but we’ve lost five matches: things feel a bit too fragile.

Latest links: David Silva (Valencia, striker – post-World Cup deal more likely); Luís Fabiano (Sevilla, striker); Franck Ribéry (Bayern, midfield); Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon, winger).

Portsmouth, 20th, Colin Farmery, Pompey-Fans.com

Where do I start? A total disaster. The annoying thing is that our meltdown has come in a year when the Premier League isn’t exactly packed with quality opposition.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Younes Kaboul has shown admirable, if at times reckless, leadership qualities and popped up with a few goals too. Aaron Mokoena has, let’s say, struggled to adapt…

Happy with the gaffer? They say it’s better to be a lucky manager than a good one. On the evidence so far, Avram is certainly the former. The latter remains to be seen. Paul Hart was neither.

Who should he sign? What do we need in January? A miracle, please.

Latest links: Miguel Vítor (Benfica, defender, loan). Club have attacked “malicious rumours” of a January fire sale: “The new owner will invest.”

Stoke, 11th, Robert Holloway, Observer reader

It’s been a stop-start first half of the season. Winning at Spurs will go down in Potters folklore, but inept performances against Man Utd, Wolves, Hull and Portsmouth (twice) leave a bitter taste…

Star man and biggest underperformer? Robert Huth has settled in well and turned in a string of excellent performances.Mentions also to Shawcross, Etherington and Wilkinson – but Whelan, Whitehead and Delap have yet to find their feet.

Happy with the gaffer? His reluctance to play Tuncay until recently, infrequently using Liam Lawrence, a well-publicised battle with James Beattie, over-relying on unfit Rory Delap and playing the ineffective Dean Whitehead have us concerned.

Who should he sign? A striker (Kenwyne Jones) and a central midfielder (Scott Parker).

Latest links: Graham Dorrans (West Brom, winger); Federico Nieto (Colón de Santa Fe, striker); Landry N’Guémo (Celtic, midfield).

Sunderland, 10th, Pete Sixsmith, SalutSunderland.com

August, September, October – really encouraging, good football, good results and a misty dream of breaking into the top six. November and December – the ghosts of McCarthy and Sbragia start to appear, as we begin our annual slide down the table.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Bent, Cana and Cattermole have impressed, Gordon has begun to look like a top-class keeper, and Reid’s weight loss has made him a regular. On the other hand, Campbell has yet to look a top-flight player and McCartney has proved the old maxim: “never go back”.

Happy with the gaffer? Steve Bruce will be a success, but there are times when he’s a little one-dimensional.

Who should he sign? We need two full-backs who can tackle, pass, support the wide midfielders and not get caught out of position.

Latest links: Graham Dorrans (West Brom, winger); Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, defender); Victor Moses (C Palace, winger).

Tottenham, 5th, Dave Mason, Observer reader

The usual Spurs paradoxes: go to Villa and Everton, play them off the park yet not win; lose at home to Wolves and Stoke, yet be in contention for a Champions League place. I’ve seen some of the best displays for years, and yet also watched as we shrivelled up like a salted snail at Old Trafford.

Star man and biggest underperformer? When Huddlestone can play at his own pace his touch and passing are sublime; but against the good teams he becomes Two-Ton Tommy, the oh-so Credible Hulk.

Happy with the gaffer? Yes. And he handled the “Beano with Keano” affair well.

Who should he sign? King and Woodgate don’t seem to be good long-term prospects: a central defender would help.

Latest links: Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, defender); Nikola Zigic (Valencia, striker); Asier Riesgo (Real Sociedad, gk – has been on trial at Spurs, but Sociedad says they are yet to receive an offer).

West Ham, 17th, Pete May, hammersintheheart.blogspot.com

We’ve had some decent displays against the bigger teams, but we’ve shown a terrible inability to keep a lead. It’s been grim all round: Davenport’s stabbing, the Millwall trouble, the debt, selling James Collins, letting Lucas Neill go with no replacement…

Star man and biggest underperformer? Scott Parker, Carlton Cole, Diamanti and young Zavon Hines have impressed; Kovac, Spector and Faubert have not.

Happy with the gaffer? Zola’s commitment to good football is admirable but we need more passion and defensive organisation.

Who should he sign? We don’t need anything much in January. Just a new owner, a right-back, a centre-back, a midfield enforcer and a striker. And for Zola to refuse to take all calls relating to Parker, Upson, Cole and Green.

Latest links: Adriano (Flamengo, striker – agent says a number of European clubs have made approaches); Alan Hutton (Tottenham, defender).

Wigan, 16th, Dave Whalley, Observer reader

We’re brilliantly consistent at being inconsistent: outstanding wins against Villa and Chelsea, plus batterings at Portsmouth and (ouch) Spurs. In fairness this was always going to be a transitional season so still to be in the Premier League next season has to be the first and main target.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Best: Mohamed Diamé has made a great start, Charles N’Zogbia is showing why he’s so highly-rated, Hugo Rodallega has improved since last term and Paul Scharner is revelling in his attacking midfield role. Worst: Jordi Gómez and Jason Scotland.

Happy with the gaffer? Roberto’s liking for total football all over the pitch leads to some scary moments, but he’s still adapting.

Who should he sign? A striker or two, plus a right-back and left-back to add depth.

Latest links: Matthew Kilgallon (Sheff Utd, defender); Waldo Ponce (Velez Sarsfield, defender); Sol Campbell (free agent, defender); Michael Ball (free agent, defender).

Wolves, 15th, Arthur Williams, North West Wolves Supporters’ Club

There’ll be Tidings of Comfort and Joy for Wolves fans: the ultimate present of not being cursed with being bottom at Christmas. Three wins from the last four games mean that we have five more points than we did the last time we were in this league on Christmas day.

Star man and biggest underperformer? I can’t label anyone from our team of triers as the worst performer, but I don’t think anyone will argue against me saying that Jody, walking in his own Craddock Wonderland, has been top of the pile.

Happy with the gaffer? Old Trafford aside, I haven’t had a great deal to complain about, but Super Mick in his own inimitable style has given us the chance to “dream the impossible dream” of survival come May 2010.

Who should he sign? James Beattie might be up for a move after recent events: him, a couple of full-backs and two wingers would do for me.

Latest links: Paul Baysse (Sedan, defender); Rob Hulse (Derby, striker); James Beattie (Stoke, striker).

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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