Daniel Agger has given Liverpool the lead at half time following an entertaining 45 minutes at Anfield.
The visitors started brightly and Rickie Lambert threatened early, firing just wide with a 25-yard strike in the first minute.
After the warning from Lambert, Liverpool started to dominate possession and could have been ahead following a weaving run from Luis Suarez, but Glen Johnson failed to find the target with his effort from inside the box.
Johnson had another attempt at goal midway through the half but his curled shot from the edge of the box was comfortably stopped by Paulo Gazzaniga.
Liverpool ended the first period as the superior side, with Gazzaniga once again being forced into action to deny Suarez from close range following an exchange of passes between the Urguayan and Lucas.
Suarez came close to scoring once again when he rattled the crossbar with a free kick but the hosts did open the scoring just moments later when Agger headed in Johnson's cross.
