Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun hit second-half goals as Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over 10-man Wolves on Boxing Day.
The inspirational number eight capped his 200th Barclays Premier League match as skipper with a 62nd minute opener before the Israeli wrapped up the points courtesy of a deflected effort eight minutes later.
It means Rafael Benitez's men are now five points behind fourth placed Aston Villa, although the Villans could extend that advantage when they lock horns with Arsenal on Sunday.
In his pre-match press conference Benitez had identified the encounter with the Wanderers as 'must-win', and with Javier Mascherano suspended, he handed a first Barclays Premier League start to Alberto Aquilani.
The Reds were looking to improve upon a run of just three victories in 12 matches and they made a bright start, with Fabio Aurelio's 25 yard free-kick testing Marcus Hahnemann inside the opening 40 seconds.
The Anfield faithful had arrived anticipating a late Christmas gift from the men in red and they must have been pleased with Liverpool's attacking attitude in the opening exchanges.
Gerrard's guided shot from distance once again forced Hahnemann into action before the former Reading stopper showed superb agility to tip over Fernando Torres' piledriver, after the Spaniard had made space for the shot with a series of twists and turns.
But if those around L4 thought Wolves were going to lie down for the remainder of the game, then they were sadly mistaken, as first Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and then Nenad Milijas brought the best out of Pepe Reina before Kevin Doyle contrived to head a corner well wide from inside the six yard box.
A familiar air of anxiety was beginning to creep into the Merseyside air and Milijas almost had the visiting fans dreaming of an upset on 25 minutes, but he got his shot all wrong after being given the space to let fly from the edge of the area.
It had now transformed from a one-sided clash that had fans wondering how many Liverpool would score, into an evenly contested midfield battle.
In fact, it wasn't until the 44thminute that Hahnemann was forced to produce another outstanding save to deny Johnson, leaving Mick McCarthy delighted to see his side go in all-square at the break after weathering an early storm.
However, the second-half began similar to the first and after Gerrard had once again stung Hahnemann's fingertips, the visitors were reduced to 10 men.
Stephen Ward brought down Lucas Leiva just outside the area, leading to a second yellow card inside six minutes of the restart.
It was a moment that changed the complexion of the game and on 62 minutes a spell of reds pressure finally paid dividends.
Emiliano Insua drove down the left flank before delivering an inch perfect cross for Gerrard to guide home at the far post.
It was the skipper's fifth of the season and immediately changed the mood within the ground.
There was an extra spring in Liverpool's step and a fresh crispness to their passing. It was only a matter of time until the second goal followed and on 70 minutes the Reds gave themselves some breathing space.
Aurelio's fierce cross from the left skimmed off the head of a Wolves defender and fell kindly for Benayoun at the far post. The Israeli jinked inside before hitting a shot that deflected off Karl Henry into the roof of the Kop end net.
With the game won, Benitez opted to give a league bow to Daniel Pacheco and although no further goals were to follow, the Reds can now turn their attention to the crucial clash with Aston Villa on Tuesday night with renewed confidence.
