Liverpool 3-1 Bolton Wanderers

Posted: Saturday 27th August 2011

Tags: Match Reports, Premier League, Liverpool, Ivan Klasnic

Bolton lost at Anfield for the tenth season running as they fell victim of a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Jordan Henderson opened the scoring on 15 minutes with his first goal for the Reds, before two goals in as many minutes from Martin Skrtel and Charlie Adam shortly after the break gave Kenny Dalglish's side a three-goal cushion.

Ivan Klasnic scored a consolation in stoppage time for Wanderers, but it was too little too late as Owen Coyle's side left Merseyside with nothing.

The first quarter of an hour passed without much spark but the game suddenly burst into life on 15 minutes as the hosts took the lead.

After making a superb stop to keep out a Stewart Downing volley, Jussi Jaaskelainen was beaten as Dirk Kuyt capitalised on a slip from Paul Robinson and played the ball to Henderson, who shot into the top corner after seeing his initial shot blocked by Nigel Reo-Coker.

Wanderers hit back immediately and Jose Reina had to be alert in the Liverpool goal to keep out a Martin Petrov volley after the Bulgaria international had been played in by Chris Eagles.

After Kuyt had prodded the ball wide from close range, the hosts were on the attack again soon after. Suarez found himself clean through on Jaaskelainen's goal, but only succeeded in finding the roof of the net with an audacious chip from just outside the area.

The visitors made a tactical switch with just 26 minutes on the clock as Coyle decided to bring Mark Davies on for Fabrice Muamba.

Soon after his introduction, the little midfielder went on a magnificent run from his own half, beat off the challenges of several Liverpool defenders before shooting tamely into the arms of Reina from the edge of the box.

Kuyt send a volley straight into the hands of Jaaskelainen soon after, before the hosts saw appeals for a penalty turned down just before the break.

Gretar Steinsson handled the ball as Downing attempted to run beyond him and into the penalty area, but referee Lee Probert decided to award the hosts a free-kick, with television replays confirming the incident had occured just outside the box.

Liverpool, who had taken their 1-0 lead into the break, started well after the restart and Suarez went down under a challenge from Zat Knight inside the area 90 seconds in. No penalty was given, however, and play continued.

The Uruguay international was in the thick of the action again five minutes later, laying the ball off to Adam who saw a shot deflected behind.

After winning the corner, Adam was the man to take it and his cross found an unmarked Martin Skrtel six yards from goal and he powered a header past Jaaskelainen to double the lead.

Two became three just a minute later as Adam picked up possession from Kuyt, before taking a touch and firing low into the bottom corner with his weaker right foot, ending the game as a contest.

Two minutes after that, Suarez managed to get behind the Wanderers defence, but after rounding Jaaskelainen he shot into the side netting from an acute angle.

Bolton saw appeals for a penalty turned down on 64 minutes when the ball appeared to come off Daniel Agger's knee and then hitting his arm, moments before Klasnic had a shot blocked by Jamie Carragher.

Wanderers somehow got away with a back-pass on 72 minutes, with Jaaskelainen picking the ball up following a poor ball from Robinson. Suarez led the appeals for a free-kick, but referee Probert was not interested.

Both sides enjoyed their share of possession as the final 15 minutes of the game passed by without a chance of note, before the visitors got themselves a consolation in stoppage time.

Petrov managed to get behind Carragher and just as he was about to pull the trigger, the Liverpool defender sent the ball straight into the direction of Klasnic who fired past Reina.

The victory for Liverpool puts them on top of the Premier League table, while defeat for Coyle's side leaves them in ninth place, with their next game being against Manchester United after the international break.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly (Skrtel 30), Carragher, Agger, Enrique, Adam, Lucas, Kuyt, Henderson (Rodriguez 76), Downing, Suarez (Carroll 76)
Subs Not Used: Doni, Spearing, Shelvey, Robinson
Goals: Henderson 15, Skrtel 52, Adam 53

Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Eagles (Tuncay 56), Reo-Coker, Muamba (M Davies 26), Petrov, K Davies (Pratley 71), Klasnic
Subs Not Used: Bogdan, Blake, Wheater, Riley
Booked: Steinsson, Klasnic
Goals: Klasnic 90

Referee: Lee Probert
Attendance: 44,725