Liverpool 4 - 0 Bolton Wanderers

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Sunday Dec 02 2007 03:00

Liverpool's surge towards the top of the Premier League showed no sign of relenting as the Reds cruised to a 4-0 victory over Bolton at Anfield.

A Sami Hyypia header and a superb goal by Fernando Torres were capped by a second-half Steven Gerrard penalty and a Ryan Babel tap-in at the death as Liverpool leapfrogged Manchester United into third.

Bolton arrived at a rain swept Anfield in high spirits on the back of a stunning win over Sir Alex Ferguson's men last weekend.

But Gary Megson's side were on the back foot straight away as Gerrard, Harry Kewell and Yossi Benayoun started in confident mood.

The Aussie found Benayoun with a defence splitting ball and the Israeli pulled it back for Peter Crouch, but the beanpole striker's close-range effort was saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The Reds continued their early pressure zipping it around the soaked turf as Torres and Crouch both went close.

Liverpool were pouring forward at every opportunity and on 16 minutes they took the lead through Hyypia.

The towering Finn met a superb Gerrard free-kick to bury a low header past Jaaskelainen.

Bolton were second best for most of the half but looked a threat from set pieces and Jose Reina had to be at his best to save a Kevin Davies header.

But after Torres was denied after an explosive run, Nicolas Anelka missed a golden chance to equalise when he inexplicably fired wide with Reina in a heap following a clash with his own player.

And Bolton were made to rue it when Torres doubled Liverpool's lead with an exquisite goal on the stroke of half-time.

The Spaniard latched onto a cutting Gerrard through ball and deftly chipped Jaaskelainen.

The crowd were barely back in their seats after the re-start when Crouch should have added to the lead but the lanky forward headed wide.

Then Gerrard's marauding run and shot was tipped over by the Bolton stopper.

But the skipper made amends on 56 minutes when he fired home from the spot after Crouch was brought down in the area.

Bolton toiled as Anelka went close but they were no match for a rampant Reds side who looked like adding to their lead every time they attacked.

The hugely impressive Torres nearly made it four on 63 minutes after gliding through the Bolton back line before floating a chip onto the top of the net.

With his side cruising, Rafael Benitez could even afford the luxury of taking off Kewell and Torres who left the field to a standing ovation.El Hadji Diouf almost snatched a consolation header at the end, before substitute Babel finished off the rout with a tap-in at the near post after Jaaskelainen parried a low Dirk Kuyt drive.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    Steve Bennett brings to an end an excellent Liverpool performance in which they have torn apart a poor Bolton side who were lucky to escape having conceded just four.
  • 90
    The fourth official indicates there will be two minutes of added torture for Bolton.
  • 87
    Liverpool nearly create a fifth after another brilliant move, Benayoun crossing it for Babel who tried to smash it home but Meite manages to clear it off the line.
  • 86
    Babel gets Liverpool's fourth of the afternoon after following up Kuyt's shot which Jaaskelainen can only push out to the Dutchman who just has to tap home.
  • 83
    Liverpool are just content to knock the ball about between them, not troubling Bolton until Riise tries another long range effort from inside his own half which flies wide.
  • 81
    Riise tries his luck from at least 40 yards, but it never threatens the Bolton goal going high and wide into the Anfield Road stand.
  • 76
    Babel goes on another mazy run and takes the ball into the penalty area but his shot takes a deflection and rolls well wide.
  • 75
    Fernando Torres comes off to a standing ovation and on comes Dirk Kuyt.
  • 73
    Babel and Torres combine really well, Torres nearly getting away from Michalik which leave him through on goal but Meite comes across to clear it away as Bolton survive, just.
  • 68
    Lubomir Michalik gets a booking after bringing down Babel, just one of a number of fouls by Michalik.
  • 66
    Ryan Babel comes on to take the place of Harry Kewell.
  • 65
    Stelios Giannakopoulos comes on to replace El Hadji Diouf, who gets booed as he trudges off the field.
  • 63
    Torres shows another bit of skill, taking the ball past Samuel on the right and cutting into the penalty area but can't finish his own good work off, sending the ball high over the bar.
  • 62
    Anelka does well out wide and floats in a cross for Diouf at the far post who ca't get enough power on the header, sending it straight at Reina who saves easily.
  • 61
    Riise hammers the freekick against th Bolton wall, McCann taking the blow and deflecting it away from danger.
  • 60
    Campo is booked after shoving Benayoun over on the edge of the penalty area.
  • 59
    Anelka has a shot for Bolton, bending it in from outside the penalty area and forcing Reina into a good save, spilling it at first before gathering it in on the second attempt.
  • 55
    Gerrard smashes the penalty home to notch up his fifth goal in as many games, the game as good as over now.
  • 54
    Gerrard picks out Crouch in the penalty area who is going no where but is bundled over by Meite, penalty to Liverpool.
  • 50
    Jamie Carragher comes off and on comes 19-year-old Jack Hobbs for only his second Liverpool appearance.
  • 49
    Gerrard's corner is headed away but only as far as Riise who hits it on the half volley but can only fire it over the bar.
  • 49
    Gerrard makes a powerful run into the penalty area and drives it low towards the bottom right corner but Jaaskelainen's leg manages to turn it over the bar.
  • 45
    Riise whips in a left footed cross and finds Crouch who gets infront of his marker but can't direct the header on target, sending it inches wide.
  • 45
    Bolton get the second half underway hoping they can salvage something from the game.
  • 45
    Liverpool are comfortably in front after those two goals, although Bolton have had their chances and Anelka's miss is one moment you can't miss!
  • 44
    Torres doubles Liverpool's lead with a brilliant finish, chiping the ball over the on rushing Jaaskelainen after a pin-point 40 yards pass from Gerrard.
  • 44
    Kewell gets to the edge of the Bolton penalty area where he tries a shot but its brilliantly blocked by Samuel.
  • 40
    Gerrard whips in a corner, and finds two red shirts unmarked but Hyypia and Crouch collide and miss the ball completely, which would have been a free header for either player had they made contact.
  • 37
    Anelka with a contender for the miss of the season after Reina and Carragher collided leaving Anelka with an open goal but the French forward misses a golden chance to put the teams level.
  • 37
    Diouf floats in a high cross which finds Michalik, the big defender only able to head it wide.
  • 37
    Davies does well to get forward on the right, Davies floating in a cross which Arbeloa has to knock behind for a corner.
  • 35
    Campo floats in a freekick from the right side, but it's an awful ball, over Anelka's head at the far post as it drifts out of play.
  • 34
    Torres uses a great turn of speed to get away from Michalik, who does well to forces the forward wide, he shot from Torres eventually flying wide of goal from a tight angle.
  • 32
    Campo and Kewell sqaure up to each other after Kewell had just tripped the Bolton mifielder, but it comings to nothing as the two make up, no kises though.
  • 29
    Riise just manages to lay the ball ono Kewell who thinks about crossing it but has a shot instead which is a wild effor, the ball ending up in the Kop stand behind the goal.
  • 28
    Gerrard takes a corner for the Reds, finding Crouch who can't direct his header anywhere than over the bar.
  • 26
    Diouf's first cross comes straight back to him, the forward smashing in another cross on the volley for Anelka at the far post who just can't reach it, the ball going out of play.
  • 25
    Diouf swings in a freekick from wide on the left and Reina fails to get to the ball, it eventually hits Speed and goes behind for a Bolton corner, despite the last touch coming off the Trotters man.
  • 20
    Gerrard whips in another wicked freekick from wide on the left which nearly sneaks in but Jaaskelainen does well to get across his goal and get hold of it before it goes in
  • 17
    Hypia puts the home side ahead from Gerrard freekick, the big defender getting in ahead of Meite to nod Liverpool in front.
  • 13
    Crouch has a great shot from the edge after Campo and Speed where beaten to the ball by the tall forward, who forces Jaaskelainen to push it away with a decent save.
  • 12
    Gerrard whips in a corner which is cleared away at the near post by Samuel as the chance goes begging.
  • 10
    Diouf is booked for a high tackle on Arbeloa, not a very nice tackle from the former Liverpool man.
  • 8
    Diouf swings in a corner towards the near post where Davies meets it well and forces Reina into a good save, the goalkeeper punching it away from danger.
  • 6
    Benayoun works his magic again, this time taking on Gardener by the Israelian international lays it of for Torres, his shot is straight at Jaaskelainen, who holds it well.
  • 6
    Gerrard swings in a deep free kick from the centre of the park but its wasted by Kewell who couldn't keep it in.
  • 4
    Benayoun works his way into the penalty area, laying the ball off for Crouch who beats the goalkeeper but its saved on the line by Michalik, who did well to get back and save a certain goal.
  • 2
    Campo has a shot from the right side of the penalty area but can only smash it high over the bar after some nic build-up play from Bolton.
  • 1
    Kewell tries a shot from the edge of the penalty area but Samuel is quick to close down the Australian winger as the ball bobbles back to another red shirt.
  • 0
    Todays referee Steve Bennett gets the game underway here at a wind swept Anfield with the home side looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season. Bolton take the kick-off
  • 0
    Bolton XI: Jaaskelainen, Samuel, Meite, Michalik, Gardner, McCann, Campo, Speed, Davies, Anelka, Diouf
  • 0
    Bolton are forced to make three changes with Hunt and Nolan both suspended and Liverpool loanee Danny Guthrie unable to play against his parent club. Gavin McCann has recovered from the head injury he picked up in mid-week.
  • 0
    Liverpool XI: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Benayoun, Gerrard, Lucas, Kewell, Torres, Crouch
  • 0
    Liverpool make four changes from the side that beat Porto in mid-week with Riise, Kewell, Lucas and Crouch all coming into the starting eleven. The Reds are still without Alonso and Pennant as they long to move back into the top four.

Statistics

Liverpool
Shots on target 15
Shots off target 9
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 11
Offsides 2
Corners 5

Bolton Wanderers
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 2
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 14
Offsides 5
Corners 5

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