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Bolton's poor domestic form continued as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at home to Liverpool in the Premier League. A bizarre own goal from Jussi Jaaskelainen put the the visitors in front on 12 minutes before second half goals from Ryan Babel and Fabio Aurelio gave Liverpool a comfortable 3-0 lead. Tamir Cohen scored a consolation for Bolton 10 minutes from time but Wanderers fell to defeat and lie above the bottom three on goal difference alone. The Trotters had the better of the opening stages and went close to breaking the deadlock twice inside the first ten minutes. First, El-Hadji Diouf's free-kick evaded everybody inside the area on 5 minutes, boucing up and on to Jose Reina's crossbar before being cleared to safety. Joey O'Brien was next to try his luck, he peeled away from his marker to meet Ivan Campo's corner, but the Republic of Ireland international was denied his first goal for the club as Steven Gerrard cleared off the line. But it was Rafa Benitez's side that took the lead inside 12 minutes. Gerrard's shot from the edge of the area appeared to be going wide, but as Jaaskelainen took his eye off the ball, it hit him on the side of the head and bounced into the net. Gerrard ran over to the away support in celebration and most certainly surprise as he had given the visitors the lead against the run of play. Jaaskelainen was trying his best to make up for his error and pulled off a world class save to deny Babel on 18 minutes. The young winger cut inside and fired a rasping effort towards goal but the Finn managed to push the ball away for a corner. Gary Megson's side almost got back into the game just before the half hour but Reina made a superb save down to his left to deny Kevin Davies'. Kevin Nolan then found himself clean through on goal just two minutes later, but Reina was again alert and beat the Liverpool born midfielder to the ball. Having been denied in spectaculor fashion earlier in the half, Babel tried his luck again a minute before the break but Jaaskelainen pulled off another reaction save to deny the youngster under pressure from Gary Cahill. Gretar Steinsson limped off the field just before the break, with Grzegorz Rasiak replacing the Iceland international, allowing Joey O'Brien to fill in at right-back. Bolton made another substitution at the break, with Tamir Cohen replacing Nolan who was suffering from a back problem. The second period started on a quiet note but sprung into life just before the hour as Liverpool doubled their lead. Jamie Carragher's cross found Dirk Kuyt at the near post and his half volley came back off the post. But Cahill's clearance fell straight to Babel who got the ball under control and struck past Jaaskelainen. The visitors added another to their tally 15 minutes from time to put the game beyond any doubt. Bolton could onyl half clear a Gerrard corner and with Aurelio lurking on the edge of the area, he controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed past Jaaskelainen into the bottom corner. Five minutes later, Cohen rose highest to nod Matt Taylor's corner past Reina and score his first in English football, but it was only to be a consolation as Bolton were crashing to another home defeat. Davies was booked two minutes from the end for a needless lunge and Liverpool held on to record their first win at the Reebok in six years. With the season fast drawing to a close, Bolton are deep in relegation trouble with three of the "top four" still to come for Megson's side. |
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