Match Reports
Liverpool 1-1 Bolton Liverpool's title ambitions took another massive setback yesterday, as they were held at home to Bolton, in what was the second time this season where the newly promoted side have taken points off the Reds. On a freezing afternoon at Anfield, the game struggled to get going and the quality of the football was as poor as the temperature was low. Following their 'rest' for the match with West Ham, Michael OWen and Steve Gerrard were both recalled to the starting line up, but Litmanen was yet again left on the bench despite being the player who had looked the liveliest in the the Arsenal and Aston Villa matches, scoring a goal in each. And it proved that Litmanen's absence was to cost the side. Neither Smicer nor Berger managed to create anything for the two strikers, and with Heskey having another off day, Owen was pretty much all on his own up front and with a severe lack of service from his midfield team mates. In fact, despite Liverpool being almost at full strenth, it was Dudek who kept his side in the match with three top drawer saves, a couple late in in the first half, and one just prior to the final whistle. At the other end, Liverpool looked clueless. With a lack of width in the side, the play was mostly conducted in the centre of the park, but with Bolton defending in large numbers, it was always going to be difficult to get close to goal. Steve Gerrard managed to though, in the 50th minute. Gerrard took the ball from just outside of the penalty area and stormed his way between the Bolton defence and as it looked as though he had knocked the ball too far in front of him, Gerrard found another gear and beat Jaaskelainen to it, lifting the ball brilliantly over the advancing Bolton keeper and into the roof of the net. But other than an missed chance soon after the goal, which fell to Michael Owen, Liverpool failed to seriously threaten the Bolton goal and with nine or ten men behind the ball at all times, Bolton looked comfortable in keeping the score at 1-0. Though they werent scared of making the odd attack either, and they got their reward with around 10 minutes to go. A michael Ricketts' shot was blocked, and Kevin Nolan was faced with an empty net as the ball rebounded to him. He made no mistake from only 2 yards out and Bolton were never going to lose the game after that, and very nearly won the match in the last minute, when Dudek was called to make an excellent save from an effort by Ricketts. Had the ball gone just under the bar rather than just over though, it would have been an undeserved defeat for the Reds, but after the fans were yet again sent home disappointed with another uninspiring Liverpool display, one wonders if Liverpool really do intend to challenge for this season's Championship, because on the evidence of recent performances, the players seem to have lost their desire to bring the title to Liverpool for the first time since 1990. As Phil Thompson has said for the past few games, Liverpool need to bounce back in their next game. But with a massive number of points dropped in the mast month, this time we really do. In other results, Leeds comfortably beat West Ham, while Chelsea lost at home to Southampton.
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