FT: LIVERPOOL 3-1 BOLTON

DATE: Saturday 27 August 2011
KICK OFF: 17:30
VENUE: Anfield, Liverpool
COMPETITION: Barclays Premier League
REFEREE: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
BROADCAST: Sky Sports 2, 17:00

Liverpool produced another good display on Saturday evening as they comfortably saw off the threat of Bolton Wanderers at Anfield.

Liverpool started brightly and looked eager to make an early impression. That first goal came on 15 minutes. Luis Suarez crossed in for Stewart Downing, who had a volleyed effort saved. But the ball fell to Jordan Henderson who smashed it into the top left corner at the second attempt.

Following this, Liverpool started to take their foot off the gas and Bolton started threatening more, similar to what happened on the opening day against Sunderland.

But this time there was to be no repeat of that disappointment. Seven minutes into the second half, Martin Skrtel - a replacement for the injured Martin Kelly - rose to head in a Charlie Adam corner kick. And just a minute later it was Adam himself who received the ball, before taking it forward and slotting a right-footed effort past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

A few refereeing decisions went against Liverpool in the second half including two penalty claims by Suarez, and a blatant backpass to the goalkeeper by Gary Cahill which Jaaskelainen picked up.

And there was to be a tinge of disappointment in the second minute of injury time, when Martin Petrov broke for Bolton and was only half stopped by Jamie Carragher, as the ball fell to Ivan Klasnic to slot in.

But the result leaves Liverpool top of the league on seven points - a tally that the Reds took nine games to achieve under Roy Hodgson at the start of last season.


LIVE SCOREBOARD

LIVERPOOL - 3
Henderson 15'
Skrtel 52'
Adam 53'

BOLTON - 1
Klasnic 90+2'


LIVE LEAGUE POSITIONS

1. Liverpool - Pld 3, W 2, D 1, L 0, F 6, A 2, GD 4, Pts 7.
9. Bolton - Pld 3, W 1, D 0, L 2, F 7, A 6, GD 1, Pts 3.


TEAMS

LIVERPOOL
25 Reina
34 Kelly [Skrtel 30']
23 Carragher
5 Agger
3 Enrique
21 Lucas
26 Adam
18 Kuyt
14 Henderson [Rodriguez 77']
19 Downing
7 Suarez [Carroll 77']

SUBS: 32 Doni, 9 Carroll, 11 Rodriguez, 20 Spearing, 33 Shelvey,
37 Skrtel, 49 Robinson.

BOLTON
22 Jaaskelainen
2 Steinsson
5 Cahill
12 Knight
4 Robinson
7 Eagles [Tuncay 56']
19 Reo-Coker
6 Muamba [M Davies 26']
10 Petrov
14 K Davies [Pratley 71']
17 Klasnic

SUBS: 1 Bogdan, 9 Tuncay, 16 M Davies, 20 Blake, 21 Pratley,
31 Wheater, 39 Riley.


KEY UPDATES

15: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 1-0 BOLTON
Luis Suarez crosses it in and Stewart Downing attempts a volley which is saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen, but it falls to JORDAN HENDERSON who, after having a first effort blocked, lashes it into the top left corner.

26: FABRICE MUAMBA replaced by MARK DAVIES due to injury.

30: MARTIN KELLY replaced by MARTIN SKRTEL due to injury.

43: GRETAR STEINSSON booked for handball.

49: IVAN KLASNIC booked for a foul on Lucas.

52: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 2-0 BOLTON
Charlie Adam whips in a corner kick from the right hand side and MARTIN SKRTEL rises to head it in.

53: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 3-0 BOLTON
CHARLIE ADAM receives the ball before taking it forward, cutting to the right and unleashing a right-footed shot which finds its way into the bottom left hand corner.

56: CHRIS EAGLES replaced by TUNCAY SANLI.

71: KEVIN DAVIES replaced by DARREN PRATLEY.

77: JORDAN HENDERSON replaced by MAXI RODRIGUEZ.

77: LUIS SUAREZ replaced by ANDY CARROLL.

90+2: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 3-1 BOLTON
Bolton break with Martin Petrov and Jamie Carragher's attempt to stop the attack is only half successful as the ball rebounds to IVAN KLASNIC, who slots it in.


LAST MATCHES

LIVERPOOL
Wednesday 24 August 2011
Carling Cup Second Round
Exeter 1-3 Liverpool

BOLTON
Wednesday 24 August 2011
Carling Cup Second Round
Bolton 2-1 Macclesfield

HEAD TO HEAD
Saturday 1 January 2011
Barclays Premier League
Liverpool 2-1 Bolton


TOP SCORERS

LIVERPOOL
Luis Suarez - 3
Charlie Adam - 1
Andy Carroll - 1

BOLTON
Ivan Klasnic - 3
Gary Cahill - 1
Kevin Davies - 1