Liverpool,having lost two out of their three games this season were a bit rusty and needed to get some points in their bag to contend for the title. 'The Reds' travelled all the way to Lancashire to the Reebok stadium for their away game against 'The Wanderers'. Liverpool had to win this game to stay alive in the title race else their hopes for the English title could be laid to rest for another season.
The atmosphere at the Reebok was amazing and Gary Megson's side had the pressure on them selves for having lost the last 6 or 7 EPL games. Liverpool started with a decent line up,I would not say their strongest side but quite a competent one. Liverpool, this season has always struggled with set pieces, having conceded goals from cheeky penalty corners and free kicks. This has cost them two vital games and more importantly championship points. This game also was no different. In the 33rd minute Bolton got a penalty corner, which was not cleared away by Liverpool;thereby the ball landed right in front of the goal post for Kevin Davies, to push it inside the net. Bolton were up 1-0;leaving the Liverpool fans in jitters about the ability of their squad. Liverpool's best buy this season,Glen Johnson put Liverpool back in the game with a stunning strike which left the Bolton Goalkeeper a mere spectator,to watch the ball drift sweetly past the goal line. Liverpool were ecstatic but needed more out of the game. Half time gone both the teams were tied up at 1-1.
The second half resumed with Bolton making a comeback ,with Cohen scoring a goal and giving Bolton a 2-1 lead. The second goal was lolly pop to Cohen who made no mistake in slotting the ball past Reina. Liverpool's defence was called into question again for the second time in the match. This can be attributed to the lack of a solid partner to Carragher, with Agger injured and Skrtel injuring his jaw in the opening fixture Rafa probably was left with no choice but to experiment with his reserve players. Kyrgiakos filled in Skrtel's shoes and did quite a good job,keeping in mind that this was his first EPL game with Liverpool in the main team.
Liverpool once again finding themselves behind increased the pressure on Bolton,forcing Bolton to defend deep. The turning point in the game was when Sean Davies was sent off ( having received a second yellow card) and Bolton was reduced to ten men. Liverpool capitalised on this opportunity and equalised within 8 minutes,this time Torres doing a wonderful job in flipping the ball past the Bolton keeper. Kuyt's contribution to this goal must not go unrecognized as it was he who controlled the ball off his chest from a cross by Gerrard and made it available to Torres to complete the rest of the task. Once Liverpool had equalised the tempo was scaled up manifold and Bolton were under siege from 'The Reds'.
Gerrard had a couple of screamers kissing past the goal post, which on any other day would have gone down as a typical Gerrard goal. Liverpool also had a couple of penalty decisions turned down,the referee doing a wonderful job and not succumbing to pressure. With 80 minutes gone Bolton was just hoping to get something out of this match but one can never write off Captain Courageous. Steve Gee stepped in and fired one hell of shot at the left top corner,giving Jussi Jaskeleinen no chance to even get his fingers on the ball. Liverpool were up 3-2 and thanks to their ever inspiring captain.
Liverpool now with 6 points out of the possible 12 sit seventh in the table and have to keep their tempo going; no slip ups would be permitted if they want to have a taste of the Premier League Title, which has eluded them for over 20 years. Bolton on the other hand have yet to register a win and sit just one position above Portsmouth in the League table in the bottom half.
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