Liverpool 2 - 1 Wolves

Liverpool returned to winning ways but made hard work of it at home to Wolves as defensive frailties and equally-fragile confidence levels were almost exposed for a third successive week.

Kenny Dalglish claimed Liverpool were 'very fortunate to have Luis Suarez' after another match-winning performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

The Uruguay international scored his fourth goal of the campaign to make it 2-0 following a Roger Johnson OG.

Steven Fletcher helped make a game of it by firing in at the Anfield Road End early in the second period but the Reds were worthy winners.

Andy Carroll was one of six players recalled to the starting XI following our Carling Cup victory over Brighton in midweek, meaning man of the match Craig Bellamy dropped to the bench where he'd sit alongside the still recuperating Steven Gerrard.

Brighton 1 - 2 Liverpool

Craig Bellamy today spoke of his delight after scoring his first goal since his return to Anfield as Liverpool booked their place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup after a 2-1 win at Brighton.

The Welsh foward's inspired performance helped Liverpool secure progression to the Carling Cup fourth round as they condemned Brighton to a 2-1 defeat - their first at the Amex Stadium.

Kenny Dalglish believes Liverpool will reap the rewards of Craig Bellamy's return to topflight football.

The Wales star spent a year on loan with Championship side Cardiff last season prior to his emotional return to Anfield.

The diminutive striker capped a sensational display with a goal on his first start for Dalglish's men against Brighton on Wednesday night, leaving the boss even more convinced that the 31-year-old will make a big impression in L4 second time around.

Bellamy was instrumental in all of Liverpool's best moves in the Carling Cup triumph against the Seagulls, linking up superbly with Maxi Rodriguez, Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez.

Dalglish feels their exciting combination play was the result of the hard work they have put in on the training pitch and is hoping for more of the same in the months that lie ahead.

Steven Gerrard watched Craig Bellamy fire a superb goal in the Carling Cup win at Brighton and then declared: "That's why we signed him."

The skipper was impressed by the Welshman's vibrant display throughout an entertaining tie at the Amex and believes the No.39 will add a new dimension to Liverpool's attack this season.

Liverpool made a scintillating start to the clash with the Seagulls and could have led by more than Bellamy's goal when they went in at the interval.

Gerrard feels the hosts deserve credit for the way they raised their level after the break but was happy to see the Reds make it safely into round four of the competition.

Tottenham Hotspur 4 - 0 Liverpool

Charlie Adam and Martin Skrtel saw red as nine-man Liverpool went down to a 4-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.

Luka Modric's stunning sixth minute drive got the hosts off to a flyer before the Scotland international received his marching orders for a second bookable offence inside half an hour.

The Reds battled manfully to keep a foothold in the game but when the Slovakian suffered the same fate on 63 minutes it provided Harry Redknapp's team with the opportunity to see out the contest with ease.

Further efforts from Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor (2) sealed Kenny Dalglish's side's misery on a day that also saw Daniel Agger forced off with a rib injury.

Ahead of the contest Dalglish made one change to the team that was so unfortunate to lose at Stoke City, with Andy Carroll returning to the fold in place of Dirk Kuyt.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish, who met referees' chief Mike Riley this week after venting his anger at Mark Clattenburg's decisions against his team last weekend, was furious with Lee Probert's decision-making at times today, stopping the official as he went down the tunnel at half-time.

Right from the kick-off it looked like there was only ever going to be one winner in this match.

After his team's midweek trip to Greece, Harry Redknapp reverted to the same XI that beat Wolves and they stamped their dominance on the game from the whistle.

Stoke City 1 - 0 Liverpool

Liverpool stumbled over a familiar hurdle at the Britannia Stadium as they slipped to their first defeat of the season.

Kenny Dalglish admitted his dismay at some of the decisions which went against his side at Stoke and feels Liverpool have had reason to feel hard done by in all four of the Barclays Premier League matches so far this term.

In four visits to Stoke since the Potters earned promotion to the Premier League, the Reds have collected just two points and lost their last two matches.

Not since 1968 have Stoke recorded back-to-back home league wins over Liverpool and the result brought a side brimming with confidence before the international break back down to earth with a hefty bump.

Jon Walters scored the only goal from a 20th-minute penalty after being fouled by Jamie Carragher.

From that point nearly all the possession and chances were created by the visitors, but the resilient hosts ground out the win despite a frantic final half-hour.

The Reds can consider themselves unfortunate to have not taken something, having applied heavy pressure to the Stoke goal in the second half as they pressed in search of an equaliser, but they were to be left frustrated by the home side's stubborn defending.

Dalglish opted to make just one change to the side that beat Bolton so comprehensively last time out, with Martin Skrtel drafted in for the recuperating Martin Kelly.

That meant new signings Craig Bellamy and Sebastian Coates were named on the substitutes' bench at the Britannia Stadium as the Reds went in search of a first win on the Potters' home turf since a League Cup tie in November 2000.

On that occasion, Liverpool ran out emphatic 8-0 victors, but Stoke have come a long way since that night - as proved by a teamsheet that contained club record signing - and ex-Red - Peter Crouch in the starting XI and fellow new boys Cameron Jerome and Wilson Palacios on the bench.

Jamie Carragher admitted the Liverpool players felt aggrieved at the manner of their first defeat of the season.

Gerrard targets Spurs for comeback

Steven Gerrard has targeted Liverpool's trip to Tottenham to make his comeback from a groin injury.

The skipper insists he feels 'fitter, stronger and hungrier than ever' as he nears his Anfield comeback.

Gerrard has been sidelined since undergoing surgery in March, and has only played in six games since Kenny Dalglish's arrival at Anfield in January.

But after an intense period of rehabilitation which saw Liverpool physios work with him throughout the summer, the 31-year-old is eager to get back into his No.8 shirt.

He is preparing to return to full training next week and has set his sights on the Reds' trip to White Hart Lane on September 18 to make his comeback.

Gerrard had hoped to be fit in time for the start of the new season, only to suffer a setback in July. And the England midfielder admits it has been hard seeing Dalglish's new signings flourish in his absence.

Gerrard's recuperation was stalled during pre-season with news that he had acquired an infection.