Hodgson's side have lost three of their last four league games
By Sam Sheringham
Wolves beat Liverpool for the first time in 27 years to climb off the foot of the Premier League table and pile pressure on Reds manager Roy Hodgson.
Stephen Ward's crisp finish from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's pass 11 minutes into the second half proved enough to give Mick McCarthy's men a famous victory.
Raul Meireles wasted a dismal Liverpool's best chance early on when he shot straight at Wayne Hennessey.
And Martin Skrtel's late headed goal was rightly ruled out for offside.
That scare aside, Wolves had little trouble in holding on for their first league away win of the season and their first over the Reds since little-known striker Steve Mardenborough gave them a victory at Anfield in January 1984.
Hodgson dismisses criticism despite defeat
In truth McCarthy's side, so often unable to turn impressive performances into points, were fully worthy of all three on an evening when Liverpool looked totally devoid of any creative spark.
Before the match, Hodgson had expressed the hope that his players would be fresh rather than rusty after an 18-day break from league commitments because of two successive postponements.
But even the return of skipper Steven Gerrard from a six-week injury layoff could not inspire Liverpool, and Hodgson headed down the tunnel with the boos of fans ringing in his ears after an eighth league defeat of the season which leaves the Reds in 12th place going into the new year, just three points above the relegation zone.
The first half was an instantly forgettable affair, with the only chance of note falling to Meireles inside six minutes.
A quick free-kick from Fernando Torres released the Portuguese midfielder through on goal but his weak shot was comfortably saved by the advancing Hennessey.
From then on, Wolves more than held their own, enjoying plenty of possession in the Liverpool half without really creating any clear-cut openings.
Their only shot of the first period was a long-range strike from top-scorer Ebanks-Blake which trickled tamely wide.
Gerrard did his best to energise Liverpool, but with Torres once again out-of-sorts, and Dirk Kuyt looking uncomfortable in a left-sided role, there was very little fluidity to the home side's play.
The Reds carved the first opening of the second period as Glen Johnson's pull-back found David Ngog but the Frenchman hooked wide from six yards.
Wolves defender Ronald Zubar was slightly closer with his shot on the turn as he forced Pepe Reina, on his 200th Premier League appearance, into a low save.
Anfield win boosts McCarthy's hopes
It was an omen of things to come as in the 56th minute the visitors took the lead after a mix-up between Skrtel and Sotirios Kyrgiakos allowed Ebanks-Blake's through-ball to squeeze between them.
Ward showed good pace to beat the advancing Reina to the ball and poke a low finish into the corner.
Hodgson sent on Ryan Babel and Joe Cole in pursuit of an equaliser but it was Wolves who came closest to scoring, when only a last-gasp block by Johnson prevented Kevin Foley making it 2-0.
Two minutes from time, Skrtel's header from Gerrard's free-kick flew in past Hennessey but replays showed several Liverpool players had strayed offside.
90:00+4:09 Steven Fletcher fouled by Martin Skrtel, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by David Edwards.
90:00+2:38 Sotirios Kyrgiakos has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the goal.
90:00+1:28 The referee blows for offside against Steven Fletcher. Jose Reina takes the free kick.
90:00+0:41 The offside flag is raised against Ryan Babel. Wayne Hennessey restarts play with the free kick.
88:28 Substitution David Edwards comes on in place of Matthew Jarvis.
87:07 Ronald Zubar gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dirk Kuyt. Free kick crossed right-footed by Steven Gerrard.
Martin Skrtel is caught offside. Wayne Hennessey takes the indirect free kick.
85:55 Steven Fletcher gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fabio Aurelio. Jose Reina takes the free kick.
85:21 Free kick awarded for a foul by Dirk Kuyt on Ronald Zubar. Free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.
84:05 The referee blows for offside against Dirk Kuyt. Wayne Hennessey takes the indirect free kick.
82:55 Centre by Steven Gerrard.
82:21 Steven Gerrard crosses the ball, clearance by Richard Stearman.
81:41 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake sends in a cross.
81:05 Unfair challenge on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake by Leiva Lucas results in a free kick. Matthew Jarvis restarts play with the free
kick.
78:01 Sotirios Kyrgiakos challenges Sylvan Ebanks-Blake unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ronald Zubar takes the free kick.
77:13 Substitution (Wolverhampton) makes a substitution, with Steven Fletcher coming on for Stephen Ward.
76:24 The assistant referee flags for offside against Ryan Babel. Wayne Hennessey restarts play with the free kick.
76:10 Christophe Berra is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Jose Reina takes the indirect free kick.
75:40 Foul by Glen Johnson on Matthew Jarvis, free kick awarded. Nenad Milijas crosses the ball in from the free kick, Jose Reina
makes a save.
75:40 Booking The referee books Glen Johnson for unsporting behaviour.
74:40 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Matthew Jarvis, free kick awarded for a foul by Christophe Berra on Jose
Reina. Direct free kick taken by Jose Reina.
74:00 Inswinging corner taken by Stephen Hunt from the right by-line, save by Jose Reina.
72:59 Substitution Fabio Aurelio on for Paul Konchesky.
72:14 Substitution Joe Cole replaces Raul Meireles.
68:12 Ryan Babel has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses left.
64:54 Raul Meireles sends in a cross, Richard Stearman manages to make a clearance.
62:57 Matthew Jarvis takes a shot. Blocked by Glen Johnson. Stephen Hunt takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the
near post, clearance made by Leiva Lucas.
61:49 Steven Gerrard challenges Nenad Milijas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.
61:49 Substitution (Liverpool) makes a substitution, with Ryan Babel coming on for David Ngog.
61:28 Raul Meireles sends in a cross, Richard Stearman makes a clearance.
57:38 Stephen Hunt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Ngog. Direct free kick taken by Raul Meireles.
56:58 The offside flag is raised against Stephen Ward. Jose Reina takes the indirect free kick.
55:26 The assist for the goal came from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
55:26 GOAL - Stephen Ward:Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton Stephen Ward finds the net with a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Liverpool 0-1 Wolverhampton.
54:36 George Elokobi delivers the ball, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the target.
51:56 Ronald Zubar takes a shot. Save by Jose Reina.
51:16 The ball is swung over by Stephen Hunt.
51:03 The ball is delivered by Stephen Hunt, Sotirios Kyrgiakos manages to make a clearance.
49:14 Close range shot by David Ngog goes wide of the right-hand upright.
48:06 Fernando Torres is caught offside. Free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.
46:56 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake delivers the ball, clearance made by Raul Meireles.
46:15 Centre by Dirk Kuyt, David Ngog takes a shot. Wayne Hennessey makes a save.
45:21 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Matthew Jarvis, save made by Jose Reina.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
Half Time
45:00+1:11 The referee calls an end to the first half.
45:00 Free kick awarded for a foul by David Ngog on Richard Stearman. Wayne Hennessey takes the free kick.
41:57 The ball is crossed by Matthew Jarvis.
40:09 Unfair challenge on Jose Reina by Stephen Ward results in a free kick. Jose Reina restarts play with the free kick.
38:05 Corner taken by Steven Gerrard played to the near post, clearance by George Elokobi.
37:54 David Ngog takes a shot. Richard Stearman gets a block in.
37:26 The ball is sent over by Steven Gerrard, save made by Wayne Hennessey.
35:32 George Elokobi produces a cross.
32:57 David Ngog takes a shot. Comfortable save by Wayne Hennessey.
31:51 Paul Konchesky has an effort at goal from long range that goes wide left.
31:43 Raul Meireles crosses the ball, clearance by Richard Stearman.
30:28 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Leiva Lucas by George Elokobi. Free kick crossed right-footed by Steven Gerrard,
clearance by Christophe Berra.
30:28 Booking The referee shows George Elokobi a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
28:57 Richard Stearman concedes a free kick for a foul on David Ngog. Martin Skrtel takes the free kick.
25:57 Stephen Ward challenges Paul Konchesky unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jose Reina restarts play with the free kick.
25:45 The ball is delivered by Stephen Ward, clearance made by Martin Skrtel.
24:16 Stephen Hunt produces a cross, Paul Konchesky gets a block in.
24:11 Matthew Jarvis crosses the ball.
23:26 The ball is crossed by Stephen Ward, save made by Jose Reina.
22:56 The ball is delivered by Steven Gerrard, Wayne Hennessey makes a save.
22:29 Effort on goal by Fernando Torres from 20 yards. Christophe Berra gets a block in.
21:05 Free kick awarded for a foul by Martin Skrtel on Stephen Ward. Kevin Foley restarts play with the free kick.
20:12 Stephen Hunt takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.
20:07 The ball is swung over by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Glen Johnson manages to make a clearance.
18:58 Shot from a long way out by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake goes wide of the left-hand upright.
18:03 George Elokobi concedes a free kick for a foul on David Ngog. Glen Johnson restarts play with the free kick.
16:59 Matthew Jarvis takes the inswinging corner, Steven Gerrard makes a clearance.
16:40 The ball is crossed by Matthew Jarvis, Raul Meireles manages to make a clearance.
16:06 Raul Meireles produces a cross, clearance by Christophe Berra.
15:41 Inswinging corner taken by Steven Gerrard from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Matthew Jarvis.
15:24 Steven Gerrard sends in a cross, Richard Stearman makes a clearance.
13:39 Christophe Berra concedes a free kick for a foul on Raul Meireles. Free kick taken by Steven Gerrard.
11:36 The official flags Matthew Jarvis offside. Jose Reina restarts play with the free kick.
8:31 Stephen Hunt takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.
7:29 Corner taken by Stephen Hunt from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Leiva Lucas. Corner taken by
Matthew Jarvis played to the near post, clearance made by Dirk Kuyt.
Correction - 6:55 David Ngog fouled by Kevin Foley, the ref awards a free kick. Fernando Torres takes the direct free kick. Raul Meireles takes
a shot. Wayne Hennessey makes a save.
6:55 Kevin Foley challenges David Ngog unfairly and gives away a free kick. Fernando Torres takes the direct free kick, Raul Meireles
takes a shot. Save by Wayne Hennessey.
5:13 Nenad Milijas produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.
0:00 The game kicks-off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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