Roger Johnson: We just weren't on the ball

Wolves captain Roger Johnson today admitted his side's failure to stifle Liverpool's quality on the counter-attack proved decisive in last night's defeat at Molineux.

Liverpool caught the Wolves defence napping as they brushed aside Mick McCarthy's men with some clinical finishing in the second half.

Andy Carroll opened the scoring for Liverpool seven minutes after the break when he stole in front of Eggert Jonsson to latch on to Charlie Adam's cross to strike a near-post shot past Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey.

Wales international Craig Bellamy, who had caused the Wolves defence problems all evening, added a second when space opened up in front of him which allowed him to curl the ball into the bottom-right corner.

And Dirk Kuyt put the icing on the cake for Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish when he exchanged passes with Adam having been picked out by a superb cross-field pass by Jose Enrique and angled a low shot past Hennessey.

Johnson felt their struggles against Liverpool's ability to hit them on the break in the second half was what proved costly.

"In the first half there was no danger but in the second half we conceded a goal and it was backs to the wall after that," said the Wolves skipper.

"We found it difficult to get near them as they were playing around us.

"The first goal killed us and it came from our own corner. We're disappointed with that because they did us on the break but that's what Liverpool do well.

"In the first half we dealt with it, in the second half we didn't so much. That goal changed the game; it was one of those nights when we needed to keep a clean sheet and we didn't."

Johnson also felt his team-mates should take collective responsibility for the goals they conceded rather than blaming individual mistakes.

"Two of the goals we got done on the break, there was no individual errors," he added. "Wayne (Hennessey) will probably hold his hand up and say he should have saved the second but on the others we were done."

The only consolation for McCarthy was the signing of Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong on loan until the end of the season shortly before the transfer window closed.

There was no last-minute deals by Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish and Carroll scored his first league goal for three months after rumours circulated he was surplus to requirements.

Dalglish said: "We don't need to justify the rumours. That is not our problem.

"You must think we tell you lies because we told you there would be nothing happening. It's a wee bit insulting when people don't believe you and I don't see why we need to be anything other than truthful."