Liverpool 3-1 Bolton: Jordan Henderson & Charlie Adam net first goals for club as impressive Reds join leaders at top of Premier League

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It was the former Sunderland man’s first goal for his new club, and it came in a period of near-total dominance for Liverpool, with Luis Suarez and Charlie Adam impressing early on. 

It was through Suarez that the goal came about, after his fabulous cross with the outside of his right foot met the run of Downing. The former Aston Villa winger’s volley produced a save of the top order from Jussi Jaaskelainen, but the ball was not cleared properly and found Henderson.

Henderson’s initial shot was blocked, but when it came back to him it was dispatched exquisitely into the top corner with his left foot.

It was exactly what Liverpool deserved for their early efforts and by the end of the first half-hour, Bolton were lucky to be only one goal behind with the Reds producing some magnificent play.

Suarez really should have added a goal to his impressive first half display after he was put clean through on goal and elected to lob Jaaskelainen, only for the ball to land on the roof of the net.

As the match progressed towards half-time, Bolton did make some inroads into the Liverpool half, with an impressive run from the substitute Mark Davies as he took on the entire defence, but his shot at Pepe Reina was weak.

And throughout this period, the hosts were looking increasingly dangerous on the counter-attack, with the midfield pairing of the deep-lying playmaker in Charlie Adam and the battling style of Lucas complementing each other extremely well.

One final flashpoint came near the end of the first half, as Downing took on Gretar Steinsson on the edge of the penalty area, only for the Bolton right-back to stick out his hand and block the ball.

With nearly everyone in the stadium howling for a penalty, referee Lee Probert brilliantly spotted that while Steinsson’s feet were inside the area, his hand was not, and he thus gave a free-kick.

Good day at the office | Skrtel celebrates heading home Liverpool's second of three goals

Liverpool started the second half at break-neck speed, with two goals in a minute with Adam at the centre of everything.

It was from his wicked corner early on that first-half substitute Martin Skrtel nodded home, beating his marker Zat Knight far too easily.

Then, from Bolton’s centre, the ball was stolen with Dirk Kuyt finding Adam, who shrugged off a challenge from Nigel Reo-Coker to fire his shot into the bottom corner on his supposedly weaker right-foot as he became the second player of the day to score his first Liverpool goal.

The Kop were clearly enjoying the performance from Kenny Dalglish’s men, who not only looked more comfortable in possession but also looked more physically capable than their counterparts.

The movement from Suarez, Downing, and even Adam – noted more for his capabilities with the ball than without it – was exceptional.

While they took their foot off the gas in the next 20 minutes, Liverpool never really looked troubled by the visitors.

They were harshly denied an indirect free-kick as well, when Paul Robinson passed back to Jaaskelainen, and the Fin, under pressure – as ever from Suarez, picked the ball up. The Uruguayan was howling for the decision, and despite pressure from Henderson and Lucas, Lee Probert waved away in perhaps his only wrong decision of the match.

Bolton got an injury time consolation goal through Ivan Klasnic after a mistake from Jamie Carragher in clearing a through-ball, but Kenny Dalglish will have cause for much optimism in his side's quest for Champions League qualification.