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Played
January 21, 2012 5:30 PM GMT
Reebok Stadium — Bolton
Referee: K. Friend
Attendance: 26854
January 21, 2012 5:30 PM GMT
Reebok Stadium — Bolton
Referee: K. Friend
Attendance: 26854
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| Bolton | 6.50 | 1.07 | 6.50 | 1.01 | 6.50 | 6.00 | 7.40 | 6.00 |
| Draw | 4.00 | 7.00 | 4.00 | 21.00 | 4.00 | 3.60 | 4.10 | 3.75 |
| Liverpool | 1.55 | 21.00 | 1.50 | 61.00 | 1.53 | 1.65 | 1.53 | 1.55 |
Top of the Match
Craig Bellamy
Liverpool
Liverpool
Chris Eagles
Bolton
Bolton
Flop of the Match
Charlie Adam
Liverpool
Liverpool
Charlie Adam
Liverpool
Liverpool
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Liverpool: Davies, Reo-Coker & Steinsson strikes send lacklustre Reds to disappointing defeat
Kenny Dalglish's men were bettered throughout by their spirited hosts and sparked only briefly after Craig Bellamy's cool finish had given them hope before half-time
By David Lynch at Reebok Stadium
Getty Images
Bolton climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone with an impressive 3-1 win over Liverpool at the Reebok Stadium.
A coolly-taken opener from Mark Davies gave the Trotters the lead before Nigel Reo-Coker doubled it after an identically slick build-up from the hosts.
Craig Bellamy provided hope of a comeback before half-time but this was quickly extinguished by Gretar Steinsson’s volley early in the second period.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle chose to stick with the same side which were so comfortably beaten at Old Trafford in the Trotters’ last outing as former Liverpool striker David N’Gog led the line for the Lancashire side.
Meanwhile, opposite number Kenny Dalglish rang the changes after a frustrating home draw with Stoke City in their last fixture. Bellamy, Maxi Rodriguez and Andy Carroll formed the basis of a potent-looking attack whilst Daniel Agger made his return from injury. Defenders Sebastian Coates and Jamie Carragher missed out in the reshuffle as did Stewart Downing and Dirk Kuyt.
The visitors had looked comfortable in the opening exchanges, passing the ball with familiar vigour, but they were to be stung in ruthless fashion by their hosts’ first attack.
A ball inside to N’Gog saw the Frenchman flick brilliantly first-time to the onrushing Davies who took two touches as he ran into the box before firing past a helpless Pepe Reina.
The early goal understandably buoyed the home crowd and the visitors seemed rocked as moments later Jose Enrique gifted the ball to Chris Eagles only for the winger’s ball across goal to be left agonisingly untouched with the goal gaping.
Dalglish’s men had an opportunity to hit back on the counter just moments later but Rodriguez could only control a lofted ball with his hand in the opposition box and wasted a chance at goal.
The chance spurred Liverpool into further action and only desperate defending could prevent Bellamy driving home from a Rodriguez layoff in the box as their influence on the game grew.
Henderson’s drive from distance, after a trademark Agger run from defence, was then well stopped by Adam Bogdan as the Merseysiders cemented their hold on the game, if not the scoreline.
If the Reds had been looking more impressive than their opponents, they had infinitely less cutting edge as Reo-Coker proved by giving his side their second goal with their second clear chance.
In an almost mirror image of the first goal, a flick on allowed Eagles to burst from midfield but instead of the late-runner going alone, he passed to Reo-Coker, who confidently smashed past Reina to give his side an unlikely two-goal lead.
Given their terrible start, Liverpool barely deserved a chance to get back into the game but they got just that with eight minutes of the first half remaining.
A wonderfully controlled header from Carroll allowed Bellamy through on goal and the Welshman’s touch to take him away from defenders was equally impressive, leaving him to dink over Bogdan and give his side hope.
A free-kick from Petrov underlined the possibility of a Bolton third as Liverpool went in at half-time perhaps the more dominant side, but a goal down.
As the second half began, Dalglish’s men asserted their dominance as a clever passing exchange allowed Charlie Adam to fire at goal. Although the shot was blocked well, it provided ample confidence to a side hoping to get back into the game.
However, this wasn’t set to last for long, as Bolton extended their lead with just five minutes of the second half gone. A ball into the box was brilliantly won by David Wheater and dropped to fellow defender Gretar Steinsson, who produced a striker’s finish to put his side two goals to the good.
The visitors pushed even harder after conceding the third goal but their toothless forward line continued to provide more problems than answers as the Trotters held out resolutely.
This led to their manager producing a double substitution which saw the woeful Adam and ineffective Rodriguez replaced by Kuyt and Downing. The changes did little but solidify the poor state of affairs for those in Red as Coyle’s men stayed in command.
That the game was not going to change in Liverpool’s favour was then further emphasised as Agger drove onto the bar 20 minutes from time after a brilliant run.
A Bellamy strike from distance, well collected by Bogdan, simply compounded what was a damaging night for a side supposed to be chasing Champions League qualification.
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Craig Bellamy provided hope of a comeback before half-time but this was quickly extinguished by Gretar Steinsson’s volley early in the second period.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle chose to stick with the same side which were so comfortably beaten at Old Trafford in the Trotters’ last outing as former Liverpool striker David N’Gog led the line for the Lancashire side.
Meanwhile, opposite number Kenny Dalglish rang the changes after a frustrating home draw with Stoke City in their last fixture. Bellamy, Maxi Rodriguez and Andy Carroll formed the basis of a potent-looking attack whilst Daniel Agger made his return from injury. Defenders Sebastian Coates and Jamie Carragher missed out in the reshuffle as did Stewart Downing and Dirk Kuyt.
The visitors had looked comfortable in the opening exchanges, passing the ball with familiar vigour, but they were to be stung in ruthless fashion by their hosts’ first attack.
A ball inside to N’Gog saw the Frenchman flick brilliantly first-time to the onrushing Davies who took two touches as he ran into the box before firing past a helpless Pepe Reina.
The early goal understandably buoyed the home crowd and the visitors seemed rocked as moments later Jose Enrique gifted the ball to Chris Eagles only for the winger’s ball across goal to be left agonisingly untouched with the goal gaping.
Dalglish’s men had an opportunity to hit back on the counter just moments later but Rodriguez could only control a lofted ball with his hand in the opposition box and wasted a chance at goal.
The chance spurred Liverpool into further action and only desperate defending could prevent Bellamy driving home from a Rodriguez layoff in the box as their influence on the game grew.
Henderson’s drive from distance, after a trademark Agger run from defence, was then well stopped by Adam Bogdan as the Merseysiders cemented their hold on the game, if not the scoreline.
If the Reds had been looking more impressive than their opponents, they had infinitely less cutting edge as Reo-Coker proved by giving his side their second goal with their second clear chance.
In an almost mirror image of the first goal, a flick on allowed Eagles to burst from midfield but instead of the late-runner going alone, he passed to Reo-Coker, who confidently smashed past Reina to give his side an unlikely two-goal lead.
Reebok reverse | Davies' early goal was a sign of things to come
Given their terrible start, Liverpool barely deserved a chance to get back into the game but they got just that with eight minutes of the first half remaining.
A wonderfully controlled header from Carroll allowed Bellamy through on goal and the Welshman’s touch to take him away from defenders was equally impressive, leaving him to dink over Bogdan and give his side hope.
A free-kick from Petrov underlined the possibility of a Bolton third as Liverpool went in at half-time perhaps the more dominant side, but a goal down.
As the second half began, Dalglish’s men asserted their dominance as a clever passing exchange allowed Charlie Adam to fire at goal. Although the shot was blocked well, it provided ample confidence to a side hoping to get back into the game.
However, this wasn’t set to last for long, as Bolton extended their lead with just five minutes of the second half gone. A ball into the box was brilliantly won by David Wheater and dropped to fellow defender Gretar Steinsson, who produced a striker’s finish to put his side two goals to the good.
The visitors pushed even harder after conceding the third goal but their toothless forward line continued to provide more problems than answers as the Trotters held out resolutely.
This led to their manager producing a double substitution which saw the woeful Adam and ineffective Rodriguez replaced by Kuyt and Downing. The changes did little but solidify the poor state of affairs for those in Red as Coyle’s men stayed in command.
That the game was not going to change in Liverpool’s favour was then further emphasised as Agger drove onto the bar 20 minutes from time after a brilliant run.
A Bellamy strike from distance, well collected by Bogdan, simply compounded what was a damaging night for a side supposed to be chasing Champions League qualification.
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Goal
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Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In GMT
Match News
Top Scorers
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Striker Arsenal |
30 | 2 |
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27 | 6 |
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23 | 3 |
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17 | 4 |
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17 | 3 |
