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Liverpool 2-0 Bolton Wanderers: Fortune Favours The Reds as Rafael Benitez's men close gap on Tottenham
Kuyt strike and a Kevin Davies own goal sees off Trotters...
30 Jan 2010 16:54:00
By Steven Saunders
Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers: Line-ups & statistics
Premier League results/standings
Liverpool eased to a 2-0 win over Bolton at Anfield to close in on Tottenham in the race for a Champions League berth.
Dirk Kuyt struck the opener on 37 minutes while an Emiliano Insua shot with 22 minutes remaining took a vital deflection off Kevin Davies to hand Liverpool their second of the game.
Liverpool remain fifth in the table but now lie just a point behind fourth-placed Spurs, who were held by Birmingham at St Andrews.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez handed David Ngog a starting place up front, while Alberto Aquilani was given the nod in midfield. Lucas and recent signing Maxi Rodriguez were the ones to drop to the bench from the starting XI that drew 0-0 with Wolves in midweek.
Bolton had the first sight of goal in the game, Jamie Carragher misjudging the bounce of the ball on the edge of the Liverpool area and Tamir Cohen finding himself with only Pepe Reina to beat, but the Israeli shot straight at the goalkeeper, who had closed down the angle well.
Liverpool were taking their time to settle into the game, and 10 minutes had elapsed before a clever flick from Steven Gerrard released Ngog on the right side of the area, but the French youngster’s cross looped harmlessly into Jussi Jaaskelainen’s arms.
The home side were a little fortunate when Mark Davies was penalised for handball 30 yards out on the right, an offence for which the Bolton man was booked. Albert Riera took the free kick but his wicked inswinging delivery failed to find anyone but Jaaskelainen.
Liverpool’s best chance to open the scoring came midway through the first half. Riera found some space on the left flank to whip in a cross along the six yard line but Kuyt failed to make any contact on his delivery. Just moments later, Bolton stormed down the park and Lee Chung-Yong darted through the Liverpool defence, rounded Reina but saw his goalbound shot athletically cleared off the line by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
When the breakthrough came, it was a scrappy affair. A deep cross from Insua found Aquilani at the back post and his knockdown was stabbed goalward by Kuyt. It was straight at the covering Gary Cahill on the line, but the Bolton defender somehow failed to prevent it sneaking between his legs and into the net.
There was controversy before the end of the first half as Lee went down in the Liverpool area under pressure from Aquilani. Contact was minimal, though, and the Korean was shown a yellow card by referee Steve Bennett for simulation.
Liverpool should have extended their lead eight minutes into the second half. Insua was released down the left and his low cross into the area was met at full speed by a strident Gerrard. His shot was only parried by Jaaskelainen and fell straight to Ngog, but he contrived to drive the ball into the ground and up off the bar and over from just eight yards with the goal gaping.
Gerrard was next to have a pop at Jaaskelainen’s goal, his shot from 20 yards again well blocked by the Finnish goalkeeper. The Kop had reason to cheer soon after, although it was due to referee Bennett being bowled over by play in the centre circle rather than an addition to the score. Ngog then saw another close range shot deflected wide by Cohen’s outstretched leg.
With the game entering the final quarter, Liverpool finally made their pressure tell with a second goal, though it again carried a large slice of good fortune. A cleared corner fell to Insua who tried his luck from 25 yards. His shot was veering well wide of the post but struck Kevin Davies, which wrongfooted Jaaskelainen who was left grasping at air as the ball spun past him.
Kuyt carved out another chance with 12 minutes left, his stepovers leaving Zat Knight stumbling although his cross was well diverted over the bar by Gretar Steinsson. Lucas, who had come on as a substitute for Aquilani, headed over a good chance while another substitute, Maxi Rodriguez, narrowly missed out on his first goal for the club.
It had turned into a rare comfortable afternoon for Benitez’s men, who will go into next weekend’s Merseyside derby with a six-game unbeaten run in the league, their best of the season.
Premier League results/standings
Liverpool eased to a 2-0 win over Bolton at Anfield to close in on Tottenham in the race for a Champions League berth.
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Dirk Kuyt struck the opener on 37 minutes while an Emiliano Insua shot with 22 minutes remaining took a vital deflection off Kevin Davies to hand Liverpool their second of the game.
Liverpool remain fifth in the table but now lie just a point behind fourth-placed Spurs, who were held by Birmingham at St Andrews.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez handed David Ngog a starting place up front, while Alberto Aquilani was given the nod in midfield. Lucas and recent signing Maxi Rodriguez were the ones to drop to the bench from the starting XI that drew 0-0 with Wolves in midweek.
Bolton had the first sight of goal in the game, Jamie Carragher misjudging the bounce of the ball on the edge of the Liverpool area and Tamir Cohen finding himself with only Pepe Reina to beat, but the Israeli shot straight at the goalkeeper, who had closed down the angle well.
Liverpool were taking their time to settle into the game, and 10 minutes had elapsed before a clever flick from Steven Gerrard released Ngog on the right side of the area, but the French youngster’s cross looped harmlessly into Jussi Jaaskelainen’s arms.
The home side were a little fortunate when Mark Davies was penalised for handball 30 yards out on the right, an offence for which the Bolton man was booked. Albert Riera took the free kick but his wicked inswinging delivery failed to find anyone but Jaaskelainen.
Liverpool’s best chance to open the scoring came midway through the first half. Riera found some space on the left flank to whip in a cross along the six yard line but Kuyt failed to make any contact on his delivery. Just moments later, Bolton stormed down the park and Lee Chung-Yong darted through the Liverpool defence, rounded Reina but saw his goalbound shot athletically cleared off the line by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
When the breakthrough came, it was a scrappy affair. A deep cross from Insua found Aquilani at the back post and his knockdown was stabbed goalward by Kuyt. It was straight at the covering Gary Cahill on the line, but the Bolton defender somehow failed to prevent it sneaking between his legs and into the net.
There was controversy before the end of the first half as Lee went down in the Liverpool area under pressure from Aquilani. Contact was minimal, though, and the Korean was shown a yellow card by referee Steve Bennett for simulation.
Liverpool should have extended their lead eight minutes into the second half. Insua was released down the left and his low cross into the area was met at full speed by a strident Gerrard. His shot was only parried by Jaaskelainen and fell straight to Ngog, but he contrived to drive the ball into the ground and up off the bar and over from just eight yards with the goal gaping.
Gerrard was next to have a pop at Jaaskelainen’s goal, his shot from 20 yards again well blocked by the Finnish goalkeeper. The Kop had reason to cheer soon after, although it was due to referee Bennett being bowled over by play in the centre circle rather than an addition to the score. Ngog then saw another close range shot deflected wide by Cohen’s outstretched leg.
With the game entering the final quarter, Liverpool finally made their pressure tell with a second goal, though it again carried a large slice of good fortune. A cleared corner fell to Insua who tried his luck from 25 yards. His shot was veering well wide of the post but struck Kevin Davies, which wrongfooted Jaaskelainen who was left grasping at air as the ball spun past him.
Kuyt carved out another chance with 12 minutes left, his stepovers leaving Zat Knight stumbling although his cross was well diverted over the bar by Gretar Steinsson. Lucas, who had come on as a substitute for Aquilani, headed over a good chance while another substitute, Maxi Rodriguez, narrowly missed out on his first goal for the club.
It had turned into a rare comfortable afternoon for Benitez’s men, who will go into next weekend’s Merseyside derby with a six-game unbeaten run in the league, their best of the season.
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