Liverpool 2 Bolton 0: Reds back to winning ways in front of Tom Hicks

30 January 2010 22:23
Liverpool kept up the pressure in the race for fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Bolton at Anfield.[LNB]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.[LNB]Rafael Benitez's side are now unbeaten in six league games, in which they have conceded just once, and remain on course to deliver the manager's 'guarantee' of Champions League football next season.[LNB] Dutch delight: Dirk Kuyt opens the scoring[LNB]It was also the first time this campaign they have shut outopponents on three successive occasions, which contributed to afourth-successive home victory.[LNB]Much of the pre-match focus had been on Juventus' interest in making Benitez their next full-time coach.[LNB]His response to that speculation was to hint that the club's ownersneeded to match his ambitions in terms of finances for squad-building.[LNB]And with captain Steven Gerrard shackled for long periods by theman-marking job of Fabrice Muamba the side needed inspiration fromsomewhere but struggled to find a cutting edge without star strikerFernando Torres, who is still several weeks away from fitness.[LNB]That alone will have at least given one of those owners, the watching Tom Hicks, food for thought.[LNB] Tussle: Martin Skirtel battles with Bolton's Tamir Cohen[LNB]It will have also given Benitez more ammunition in his bid tosqueeze every last cent out of the Americans who have yet to fully backtheir manager with the finances he needs to compete with ManchesterUnited, Chelsea and even Arsenal - never mind the likes ofmulti-billionaires Manchester City.[LNB]When Gerrard did see the ball his back-heel from Jamie Carragher's passreleased David Ngog in the area but his cross-shot from the byline looped up offZat Knight and into the arms of Jussi Jaaskelainen.[LNB]Wanderers were managing to crowd out Liverpool's tight passing gamein and around the penalty area but when they did break free EmilianoInsua flashed a cross through the six-yard box with Kuyt just unable toreach.[LNB]The hosts were indebted to Sotirios Kyrgiakos for clearing LeeChung-Yong's shot off the line after the South Korean's diagonal runfrom the right took him past both centre-backs and goalkeeper JoseReina, making his 100th consecutive Premier League appearance.[LNB] Yanks for the memories: Co-owner Tom Hicks was at Anfield to see Liverpool beat Bolton[LNB] [LNB]Liverpool's pressure eventually paid off in the 37th minute with amove started by Albert Riera's inch-perfect crossfield pass to Insua onthe left wing.[LNB]The Argentinian defender crossed to the far post where AlbertoAquilani jumped highest to head back into the six-yard area, and Kuytstabbed home through Gary Cahill's legs.[LNB]Bolton thought they had won a penalty seconds before half-time whenLee tumbled in the penalty area under Aquilani's challenge but refereeSteve Bennett booked the South Korean for diving.[LNB]Eight minutes into the second half Ngog should have given Liverpool some breathing space but fluffed his big chance.[LNB] Unhappy: Liverpool fans make their feelings clear over the club's owners[LNB] [LNB]Jaaskelainen saved Gerrard's first-time shot from Riera's cross butthe young French striker bundled the rebound into the floor six yardsout and it bounced off the outside of the post and went wide.[LNB]Gerrard tested Jaaskelainen with a driven 25-yard shot which thegoalkeeper parried low to his right before the replacement of Aquilaniwith Lucas led to the second goal.[LNB]The Brazilian midfielder headed Riera's deep cross back for Ngog tolay the ball off to Insua who drove in a shot which was heading wideuntil it deflected off Davies to wrong-foot Jaaskelainen.[LNB]Kuyt's late dribble left Knight on the floor and his cross had to beturned over the crossbar by Gretar Steinsson as the pressure continuedon Bolton until the final whistle.[LNB] Rafa Benitez fires off a warning: Keep me happy or I'll leave LiverpoolBirmingham make fresh moves for Ryan Babel and Roman PavlyuchenkoLIVERPOOL FC

Source: Daily_Mail