Wolves 0 Liverpool 3

Wolves were punished for lapses in concentration as goals from Andy Carroll, Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt helped Liverpool stroll to a comfortable victory at Molineux, writes Timothy Abraham.

Eggert Jonsson switched off at the back post to allow Carroll to open the scoring five minutes in the second half as the £35m striker latched on to Charlie Adam's cross.

Bellamy doubled the lead in the 61st minute when he curled the ball past Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey as the home defence backed off and Kuyt scored on the counter attack 12 minutes from time to wrap up Liverpool's first Premier League win of 2012.

Mick McCarthy made one change from the Wolves team which lost to Aston Villa last time out as Jonsson came into the centre of midfield for the suspended Karl Henry.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish made five changes from the team which knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup as he took the decision to rest skipper Steven Gerrard.

Glen Johnson, Jay Spearing, Charlie Adam, Bellamy and Kuyt were all recalled with Martin Kelly, Stewart Downing and Jamie Carragher dropped to the bench while Maxi Rodriguez was left out completely.

Liverpool created an opening in the third minute when Bellamy's cross from the left was flicked on by Carroll into the path of Kuyt inside the six-yard box, but the Dutch striker was unable to control a difficult ball.

Wolves best early chance came in the 12th minute when Kevin Foley delivered a dangerous curling ball from the right but Dave Edwards failed to make clean contact with shot which went straight into the arms of Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina.

Edwards headed high and wide from an unmarked position three minutes later when he was picked out by Michael Kightly's free-kick as Wolves responded to Liverpool's positive early intent.

Jordan Henderson slid a perfectly-weighted pass for Bellamy to run on to in the 20th minute but the Foley got across to nudge the Wales international off the ball which allowed Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to come off his line and gather.

The Wolves keeper made a smart save shortly afterwards when Bellamy whipped in a corner and Daniel Agger climbed highest only to see his goal-bound header parried to safety.

Liverpool began to turn up the heat on Wolves and felt they were denied a penalty in the 36th minute when Emmanuel Frimpong appeared to nudge Adam from behind but referee Anthony Taylor waved away the appeals.

The lively Bellamy forced Wales compatriot Hennessey to make a diving save to his left shortly before half-time while Kightly saw his shot from the edge of the box whistle past the post after a neat one-two with Fletcher.

Liverpool seized the initiative after the interval when they took the lead through Carroll in the 52nd minute after the visitors caught the Wolves defence off guard.

Bellamy took a quick throw-in near the 18-yard box and Adam whipped an inch-perfect cross from the left which found Carroll, who escaped the attentions of Jonsson, and drilled a low shot past Hennessey.

Liverpool added a second nine minutes later when Bellamy cut inside from the left and took the shooting opportunity afforded to him as the Wolves defence backed off.

Bellamy curled a low shot from just outside the box into the bottom-left corner which Hennessey got a hand to but was unable to prevent it from going in the net.

Dalglish's side were now firmly in control and Kuyt forced Hennessey to tip a rasping shot over the bar shortly after with a well-struck shot from the edge of the box.

The Dutch forward had his goal in the 78th minute though as Liverpool punished Wolves on the counter attack started by a crossfield pass from Enrique.

Kuyt exchanged passed with Adam before he smashed a low shot across goal and past the despairing dive of Hennessey into the corner of the net.

Wolves supporters jeered their own players before they finally saw a second-half attempt on goal late on when substitute Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's long-range effort hit the woodwork.