Liverpool struggled to overcome a spirited Wolves, showing little sign of a comeback to top-four form.

For much of the first hour, the Midlanders held their own, defending doggedly and offering a sporadic attacking threat.

And only the controversial, and convoluted, dismissal of Irish left-back Stephen Ward on 52 minutes swung the balance in Liverpool’s favour.

Ward was dismissed for two bookable offences in the space of four minutes, the second for minimal contact on Lucas Reiva as he sped down the right-wing.

However, after consulting his nearby assistant, referee Andre Marriner booked Christophe Berra.

Bur he was persuaded by almost the entire Liverpool team, including keeper Pepe Reina from the other end of the pitch, to re-consult his assistant and eventually caution the right player, resulting in Ward’s dismissal.

Steven Gerrard headed the Reds in front eleven minutes later and Yossi Benayoun’s deflected 70^th minute shot sealed the points.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez finally handed headline summer-signing Alberto Aquilani his first EPL start in place of the injured Javier Mascherano.

But although the move gave Liverpool a more positive look, they struggled throughout the first half, forcing Wolves’ American keeper Marcus Hahnemann into a number of comfortable saves without looking over-dangerous.

Fernando Torres, full-back Glen Johnson and the inevitable Gerrard were on-target for Liverpool.

But at the other end, Reina had to be alert to stop Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s shot on the turn and tip over a viciously-struck free-kick from Nenad Milijas before Kevin Doyle flashed a close-range header over and Ebanks-Blake skied a snapshot into the Kop.

Ten-man Wolves finally yielded on 61 minutes when a determined Gerrard powerfully headed home Emiliano Insua’s superb left-wing cross.

And Yossi Benayoun took advantage of the space vacated by the dismissed Ward to cut in from the right and fire a left-foot shot into the roof of the net via a deflection off midfielder Karl Henry’s knee.