EPL: Liverpool 4-0 Bolton (02.12.07)

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool and Bolton get back to Premier League matters on Sunday at Anfield after playing in Europe in midweek.

The Reds go into the game buoyed by Wednesday's 4-1 win over Porto, while Bolton earned a late 1-1 draw with Aris Salonika in the Uefa Cup.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has no fresh injury worries to contend with as the hosts look to maintain their unbeaten record.

Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger and Jermaine Pennant are still sidelined for Liverpool.

Peter Crouch is pushing for a place in the starting line-up after scoring off the bench against Porto.

Fernando Torres is expected to lead the attack with Crouch battling it out with Dirk Kuyt and Andrei Voronin to partner the Spaniard.

Benitez is expected to shuffle his pack with Harry Kewell and John Arne Riise both possibly returning to the starting XI.

Bolton boss Gary Megson is forced into three changes with Kevin Nolan and Nicky Hunt suspended and Danny Guthrie ineligible to play against his parent club.

Ivan Campo is set to return to the starting XI after being ineligible in Europe.

Gavin McCann is doubtful after picking up a nasty head injury against Aris Salonika.

Nicolas Anelka will be restored to the side after starting as a substitute against Aris Salonika.

Source: Skysports

[hijjawi1]

VS


Premier League
Liverpool (5th 27/39pts) v Bolton (15th 11/42pts)
Sunday 2nd December, kick-off: 15.00 (BST)
Anfield, Liverpool

Rafael Benitez has praised the work done by former Bolton manager Sammy Lee, who was axed in October to make way for Gary Megson. The Liverpool boss comes face to face with Megson's team and accepts that the Trotters' victory over champions Manchester United last weekend has made the Anfield club's task even harder.

Benitez acknowledges the revival Megson has overseen, claiming that Bolton `fought like lions' for their win over United. But the Spaniard also insists that former Liverpool coach Lee was a good manager at the Reebok Stadium and suffered from bad luck before he was sacked.

Benitez will select from an unchanged squad against Bolton and hopes that defender Daniel Agger will be back in action soon.The Danish youngster suffered a recurrence of a metatarsal injury earlier this month which delayed his comeback having been out since September. But Benitez has revealed that Agger is trying out a special new boot that Liverpool hope will speed up his recovery.

Benitez is still without Xabi Alonso and Jermaine Pennant, both long-term injuries, but will select from the squad that beat Porto 4-1 in midweek.

Meanwhile, Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen believes the club are heading in the right direction because they have gone back to basics. Jaaskelainen is aiming for a third clean sheet in the Premier League when they face Liverpool.

Benitez's side have been scoring goals for fun recently but the victory against Manchester United at the weekend was just the boost Bolton wanted as it took them out of the relegation zone. Boss Megson has to make at least three changes from the team which drew with Aris in the UEFA Cup.

Liverpool Probable Starting X1: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Kewell, Lucas, Mascherano, Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt.

Bolton Probable Starting XI: Jaaskelainen, O’Brien, Joey O’Brien, Meite, Cid, McCann, Campo, Giannakopulos, Anelka, Diouf, Davies.

Great chance for Liverpool missed by Crouch HERE

First goal for Liverpool by Hypia HERE

Anelka misses in front of empty goal HERE

2nd goal for Liverpool by Torres HERE


Penalty for Liverpool and third goal by Gerrard HERE

Fourth goal for Liverpool by Babel HERE

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool Team:
Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypiä, Riise; Benayoun, Gerrard, Lucas, Kewell; Crouch, Torres

Subs:
Itandje, Hobbs, Mascherano, Babel, Kuyt

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Bolton Team:
Jääskeläinen; Gardner, Campo, Meite, Samuel; Davies,Michalik, McCann, Speed, Diouf; Anelka

Subs:
Al-Habsi, Giannakopolous, Wilhelmsson, Alonso, Andranik

[Trim]

17 mins, 1-0 Liverpool.

Gerrard with a cross, Hyppia with the header.

[Trim]

44th minutes, 2-0 Liverpool.

Torres lobbed the goalie.

[Podolski]

56' S Gerrard (pen)
84' Babel

87th min now. from the scoreline looked a very good game for liverpool. Babel and Torres both doing well at the moment. two very good result for liverpool, 3-0 newcastle and 4-0 bolton.

[lionel]

great result!

how come mascherano didn't start? is he injured?

did yossi play well?

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Yossi played a good match. Mascherano was rested on the bench whole game. Lucas is a good replacement and played a new good game like he did against N'castle.

[Robinho4Ever]

Seems like Liverpool is in good shape !! You got very good result recently

[Werdna]

Liverpool are gradually getting back into the groove that they started the season with!

The game should have been a bit more difficult with Anelka missed the easiest chance of the season!

But apart from that slip up between Carragher and Reina Liverpool played very well at times and should (again) have even won by more! Creating chances, passing the ball well and looking solid in defence against a team that has improved over recent weeks and have posed other top teams problems. Second half was more like a training match which was good as the players will have been able to save some energy for Tuesday's very important match in Marseille!

Kewell seems to be improving which can only be good news to have him fit and in form again, Gerrard was involved in just about everything, Crouch and Torres linked up pretty well, Lucas had a good game and young substitute Hobbs looked like a good prospect for the future as well.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

The Marseille match is not on Tuesday but next.

Hobbs's long passes is awesome.