Bolton 2 Liverpool 3 : Match Report

Liverpool Limp Past Ten Man Bolton To Claim All Three Points

Aug 29, 2009

Liverpool twice came from behind and hit a late winner to seal all three points against ten-man Bolton.

After a slow start from both sides new signing Sotorios Krygiakos almost made a crucial impact to his Liverpool debut when his long clearance put Fernando Torres through on gaol in the 17th minute. Had the Spaniard’s first touch been better the Reds may have taken an early lead. The away side were beginning to settle, but for all their possession couldn’t break down Bolton’s solid rearguard and create any real goal scoring chances.

Bolton Shock Liverpool

Rafa Benitez' men were made to pay in the 33rd minute when Bolton took the lead against the run of play – and for the fifth time this season it came from a set-piece. A long corner was aimed towards the back post and Johan Elmander rose the highest to square it back across goal for Kevin Davies to slot home from a yard out. It was a body blow for Liverpool but they only had themselves to blame.

Liverpool hit back with Torres seeing his left footed shot flash inches past the far upright but minutes later they were back on level terms. Bolton failed to clear their lines and when the ball fell to Johnson he slipped inside the fullback and unleashed a left footed drive past the rooted Jaaskelainen.

Two minutes after the restart Bolton restored their lead, Kevin Davies shrugging off Carragher’s challenge to lay the ball off for Tami Cohen to rifle past Pepe Reina.

Then came the turning point of the match. In the 54th Sean Davis clipped the heels of Lucas Leiva which earned him a second yellow card and a sending off. It was rough justice for Davis and Bolton and Liverpool immediately took advantage. Two minutes later Torres collected the ball from Gerrard and after some neat footwork powered into the top left corner from just inside the box.

Gerrard Seals Victory

Liverpool piled on the pressure but were struggling to find a way through to goal, the closet they came was when Gerrard rattled the rossbar with a thunderous shot. Eight minutes from time however, they found a winner and Inevitably it was that man again, captain marvel Steven Gerrard who secured the points. Torres knocked down Johnson's cross into the path of his skipper who made no mistake in despatching the ball in the top corner from the edge of the area with a stunning drive.

Bolton pushed forward looking for an equaliser and were vulnerable to the counter-attack. Lead by Benayoun, the Isreali gave the ball to Torres in the area who squared for Gerrard on the edge of the box. Liverpool’s no.8 thought better of the shot and slid the ball wide for Andriy Voronin to cross for Torres at the back post. Liverpool’s top scorer hit his left foot effort well, but it was superbly saved on the line by the Bolton keeper scrambling back across the face of his goal.

Liverpool looked a constant threat but poor finishing and overplaying in the area meant they couldn’t add to their tally and put the game to bed. It was a battling performance from the home side, but the Reds ran out deserved winners.

Teams: Jose Reina, Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher, Sotorios Krygiakos, Emiliano Insua, Javier Mascherano (Voronin 73), Lucas Leiva, Dirk Kuyt (Dossena 88), Albert Riera (Benayoun 62), Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres

Subs: Peter Gulacsi, Martin Skertl, Yossi Benayoun, Martin Kelly, Andrea Dossena, Andriy Voronin, Damien Plessis

Teams: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Samuel Ricketts, Gary Cahill, Zat Knight, JLloyd Samuel, Sean Davis, Tamir Cohen Steinsson), Fabrice Muamba (Mustapha Riga), Kevin Davies, Matt Taylor, Johan Elmander (Chris Basham (59),

Subs: Ali Al Habsi, Paul Robinson, Chris Basham, Chung-Yong Lee, Mustapha Riga, Gretar Rafn Steinsson, Andy O’Brien

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