Liverpool FC 2 – Bolton 0
Liverpool kept up the pressure in the race for fourth place in the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Bolton at Anfield on Saturday.
Dirk Kuyt’s 49th strike for the club and Kevin Davies’ own goal either side of half-time eventually proved enough in a performance which was lacking a touch of class if not endeavour.
Rafa Benitez’s side are now unbeaten in six league games, in which they have conceded just once.
It was also the first time this campaign they have shut out opponents on three successive occasions, which contributed to a fourth-successive home victory.
Liverpool failed to get an early breakthrough when Kuyt could not get on the end of a cross by Emiliano Insua. And they survived an alarm when Lee suddenly burst into life with a solo dribble from the halfway line, which deserved better than being cleared off the line by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
The opening goal, however, saw a quality build-up, with Benitez rewarded for urging fullbacks Insua and Jamie Carragher to provide width. Half of Liverpool's outfield players, including the two fullbacks, linked up without a Bolton player touching the ball.
Carragher and Albert Riera started the move and when Insua's far-post cross was nodded back by Alberto Aquilani, Kuyt pounced for his ninth goal of the season.
Bolton thought they had won a penalty seconds before half time when Lee tumbled in the penalty area under Aquilani’s challenge but referee Steve Bennett booked the South Korean for diving.
Eight minutes into the second half Ngog should have given Liverpool FC some breathing space but fluffed his big chance.
Jaaskelainen saved Gerrard’s first-time shot from Riera’s cross but the young French striker bundled the rebound into the floor six yards out and it bounced off the outside of the post and went wide.
Gerrard tested Jaaskelainen with a driven 25-yard shot, which the goalkeeper parried low to his right before the replacement of Aquilani with Lucas led to the second goal.
The Brazilian midfielder headed Riera’s deep cross back for Ngog to lay the ball off to Insua who drove in a shot which was heading wide until it deflected off Davies to wrong-foot Jaaskelainen.
Kuyt’s late dribble left Knight on the floor and his cross had to be turned over the crossbar by Gretar Steinsson as the pressure continued on Bolton until the final whistle.
As Liverpool stretched their unbeaten league run to six games, there was even a late run-out for Ryan Babel, who Benitez insists will not be sold in this transfer window.
Benitez made the same pledge about Robbie Keane a year ago less than 48 hours before he joined Spurs and the manager said: 'We knew last year Tottenham were very interested [in Keane] so we had to play games. This time we are not playing games. Babel is staying.'
Liverpool kept up the pressure in the race for fourth place in the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Bolton at Anfield on Saturday.
Dirk Kuyt’s 49th strike for the club and Kevin Davies’ own goal either side of half-time eventually proved enough in a performance which was lacking a touch of class if not endeavour.
Rafa Benitez’s side are now unbeaten in six league games, in which they have conceded just once.
It was also the first time this campaign they have shut out opponents on three successive occasions, which contributed to a fourth-successive home victory.
Liverpool failed to get an early breakthrough when Kuyt could not get on the end of a cross by Emiliano Insua. And they survived an alarm when Lee suddenly burst into life with a solo dribble from the halfway line, which deserved better than being cleared off the line by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
The opening goal, however, saw a quality build-up, with Benitez rewarded for urging fullbacks Insua and Jamie Carragher to provide width. Half of Liverpool's outfield players, including the two fullbacks, linked up without a Bolton player touching the ball.
Carragher and Albert Riera started the move and when Insua's far-post cross was nodded back by Alberto Aquilani, Kuyt pounced for his ninth goal of the season.
Bolton thought they had won a penalty seconds before half time when Lee tumbled in the penalty area under Aquilani’s challenge but referee Steve Bennett booked the South Korean for diving.
Eight minutes into the second half Ngog should have given Liverpool FC some breathing space but fluffed his big chance.
Jaaskelainen saved Gerrard’s first-time shot from Riera’s cross but the young French striker bundled the rebound into the floor six yards out and it bounced off the outside of the post and went wide.
Gerrard tested Jaaskelainen with a driven 25-yard shot, which the goalkeeper parried low to his right before the replacement of Aquilani with Lucas led to the second goal.
The Brazilian midfielder headed Riera’s deep cross back for Ngog to lay the ball off to Insua who drove in a shot which was heading wide until it deflected off Davies to wrong-foot Jaaskelainen.
Kuyt’s late dribble left Knight on the floor and his cross had to be turned over the crossbar by Gretar Steinsson as the pressure continued on Bolton until the final whistle.
As Liverpool stretched their unbeaten league run to six games, there was even a late run-out for Ryan Babel, who Benitez insists will not be sold in this transfer window.
Benitez made the same pledge about Robbie Keane a year ago less than 48 hours before he joined Spurs and the manager said: 'We knew last year Tottenham were very interested [in Keane] so we had to play games. This time we are not playing games. Babel is staying.'
