Steven Gerrard produced a master class performance to steer Liverpool to an impressive 4-0 victory over Bolton at Anfield.
Skipper inspires side to 4-0 victory
Steven Gerrard produced a master class performance to steer Liverpool to an impressive 4-0 victory over Bolton at Anfield.
The Reds were dominant from the start and they did not have to wait long for a deserved lead when Sami Hyypia deftly headed in from a Gerrard free-kick on 17 minutes.
Bolton, though, should have been level as Jamie Carragher collided with his own goalkeeper Jose Reina, but Nicolas Anelka somehow managed to roll the loose ball wide of the open goal.
On the stroke of half-time Anelka was made to rue his miss as Gerrard, whose form earlier in the season had been questioned, was again the architect as he rolled a stunning 60-yard pass into the path of Fernando Torres who cutely chipped past Bolton shot-stopper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Eleven minutes after the interval, Gerrard had the goal his performance deserved when he converted from the penalty spot after Abdoulaye Meite had hauled down Crouch.
Substitute Ryan Babel then sealed the Reds' fifth victory in a row in all competitions as he tapped in from close range on 86 minutes after Jaaskelainen had poorly parried an effort from Dirk Kuyt.
Bolton started with Kevin Davies, usually a striker, on the right of midfield, but moving in to support Anelka when the Trotters broke out. And that ploy caused Liverpool more than a few problems.
Initially, Bolton were under pressure as Harry Kewell and Yossi Benayoun ran at their defence. Ricardo Gardner had to kick away from an open goal from Crouch, and then Jaaskelainen needed to be alert to scoop away a Torres close-range effort after Benayoun's run.
Working hard
Bolton come into their own at set-pieces, and when a Diouf corner was flicked on by Meite right in front of Reina, the ball was hastily cleared.
Liverpool went ahead from a set-piece of their own as Gerrard's free-kick was flicked into the bottom corner by Hyypia.
Crouch, with a header over from Gerrard's corner and then Kewell with a snap-shot that flew wide threatened to increase the lead, but generally Bolton were working very hard to stop Liverpool's build-up from the back.
Torres saw a cross-shot go wide of the far post, but at the other end Davies got away into space on the right to fire in a fierce low shot that Alvaro Arbeloa hooked away from a gaping net.
And on 38 minutes, Anelka should have equalised. Reina and Carragher collided on the edge of the box, and the ball ran for the Frenchman on the right of the six-yard box, but he managed to miss an open goal from 12 yards, putting his effort into the side netting. And Bolton were to regret that clanger.
A minute from the break, Torres eased Liverpool's tensions with a stunning goal. Gerrard's inch-perfect through ball sent Torres into the box to clip his 12th goal of the season over Jaaskelainen.
Gerrard surged into the box and saw a fierce drive deflected by Jaaskelainen four minutes into the second-half.
All hope gone
But on 54 minutes Gerrard did beat Jaaskelainen, this time from the spot. Crouch looked to be impeded by both Meite and Lubomir Michalik as he went for a Gerrard cross.
Referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot and Gerrard drilled the penalty home.
Reina saved from an Anelka snap-shot on 59 minutes but all hope had gone for the Trotters.
Torres almost scored again when he surged in from the right, beat three men and chipped the ball over the far angle.
Kuyt replaced Torres on 76 minutes, and the Dutchman helped Gerrard set up Babel for the fourth with six minutes left.
Meite headed a Babel effort off the line soon after as Bolton were reduced to praying for the final whistle.
| Liverpool |
Team Statistics |
Bolton Wanderers |
| 4 |
Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 9 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 11 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 6 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 5 |
Corners |
5 |
| 11 |
Fouls |
16 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 83.4 |
Passing Success |
74 |
| 27 |
Tackles |
33 |
| 85.2 |
Tackles Success |
81.8 |
| 52.4 |
Possession |
47.6 |
| 48.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.1 |
|
