Sunday 2 March 2008 13:30 FA Barclays Premier League
"Bolton Wanderers"	1 - 3	"Liverpool"
	(0-1)
GOAL
Cohen 79		Jaaskelainen 10 og, Babel 60, Aurelio 75
22  Jussi Jaaskelainen  15  Gretar Rafn Steinsson  31  Andy O'Brien  33  Gary Cahill  11  Ricardo Gardner  24  Joey O'Brien   8  Ivan Campo   4  Kevin Nolan  21  El-Hadji Diouf  14  Kevin Davies  32  Matthew Taylor  Subs:  26  Ali Al-Habsi   5  Abdoulaye Meite   7  Stelios Giannakopoulos  25  Tamir Cohen  47  Grzegorz Rasiak		25  Jose Reina  37  Martin Skrtel   4  Sami Hyypia  12  Fabio Aurelio  23  Jamie Carragher  20  Javier Mascherano  14  Xabi Alonso   8  Steven Gerrard (c)  19  Ryan Babel   9  Fernando Torres  18  Dirk Kuyt  Subs:  40  David Martin   6  John Arne Riise  17  Alvaro Arbeloa  11  Yossi Benayoun  15  Peter Crouch
SUBSTITUTIONS
Steinsson (Rasiak 42 )  Nolan (Cohen 46)		Torres (Riise 78)  Kuyt (Arbeloa 86)
OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS
Referee: P Dowd
Booked: Rasiak 45, Davies 88		Booked: Hyypia 35
VENUE		MANAGERS
Reebok Stadium (capacity ) Attendance: 24,004		Gary Megson (Bolton W) Rafael Benitez (Liverpool)

  Price: J

  Notes:

  - Fabio Aurelio scores his first goal for LFC

  IMPRESSIVE REDS CRUISE TO VICTORY

  Liverpool have secured their first away victory since Boxing Day after an own goal from Jussi Jaaskelainen and goals from Ryan Babel and Fabio Aurelio gave them an excellent 3-1 victory over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday.

  Rafa's side moved temporarily back into the Champions League places after Jaaskelainen put them on their way when he deflected Gerrard's shot into the net. And second half strikes from Babel and Aurelio confirmed their dominance and a third successive win.

  Bolton substitute Tamir Cohen pulled a goal back for the home side late on, but Liverpool were still comfortable and they registered three important points in the race for fourth.

  The Reds were boosted by the return of their talisman Jamie Carragher after he'd missed the win over Middlesbrough through suspension and he was one of three changes that also saw Xabi Alonso and Martin Skrtel return to first team action at the expense of Arbeloa and Lucas. The other absentee was Steve Finnan, who was injured.

  When we got underway it was Bolton who were on the front foot and only the width of the crossbar prevented an opening goal for ex-Red El Hadji Diouf. Liverpool lost 2-0 here last season and they almost made a dreadful start today when Diouf's in swinging free kick evaded everyone and bounced up and away off the crossbar.

  It was a major let off and Liverpool responded with a quick attack that saw Gerrard, Kuyt and Torres exchange passes before the latter's cross was just too firm for Babel. It was a lightening break and one that offered confidence that the Reds could hurt Bolton, but when they took the lead in their very next attack it was Trotters stopper Jussi Jaskelainen who inflicted the damage.

  The goal came when a good phase of passing gave Gerrard space and time on the edge of the Bolton box, but as well struck as his shot was it was going wide until Jaaskelainen saved and then turned to see the ball spin into his empty net.

  It was something of a gift, but Liverpool were only too happy to accept and it was only the agility of Jaaskelainen that prevented them from wrapping up the points before half time.

  Buoyed by their lead, the Reds grew in confidence and created a number of good first half chances, with Ryan Babel the chief menace. Babel gave Bolton full-back Steinsson a torrid time down the left, so much so that the defender was substituted before half time, but he twice found Jaaskelainen determined to atone for his mistake.

  Babel's first chance came in the 18th minute when he cut inside Steinsson and unleashed a powerful drive that almost took Jaaskelainen off his feet, and he stung his hands again with a similar effort just before the break.

  Liverpool were on top, but like any visitors to the Reebok, they remained vulnerable to set pieces and balls into the box, and it took a fantastic save from Pepe Reina to preserve their lead in the 27th minute. It was Bolton's first notable threat since the early exchanges, but Kevin Davies will have thought he'd scored as his header arrowed down to Reina's left, but the Spaniard pulled off a world class stop.

  Rafa Benitez hadn't enjoyed success at the Reebok before today, but with Reina's save helping them reach half time unscathed, it looked like that was set to change. And when Ryan Babel affirmed his excellent performance with a superbly taken second goal in the 60th minute, it was all over for Gary Megson's strugglers.

  The Reds had largely bossed things since the restart and they made the points safe when Carragher's right wing cross was hit against the post by an unlucky Kuyt before Babel gathered the rebound and drilled the ball inside the near post.

  The only question that remained to be answered was how many would Liverpool win by and they scored a superb third goal through Fabio Aurelio in the 75th minute. We've long known that Aurelio possesses a sweet left foot and he displayed that when he chested the ball down 20 yards out and volleyed the ball into the top corner.

  Bolton grabbed a late consolation through substitute Tamir Cohen, whose Dad Avi played for the Reds, but defeat here leaves them deep in relegation trouble.

  Liverpool have their sights set on the top end of the table and they'll be hoping this win gives them lift off for the rest of the season.

  Teams

  Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Hyypia, Skrtel, Carragher, Babel, Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard (captain), Torres, Kuyt. Subs - Riise, Crouch, Arbeloa, Benayoun, Martin.

  Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Gardner, O'Brien, Cahill, Steinsson, Taylor, O'Brien, Campo, Diouf, Davies, Nolan (captain). Subs - Giannakopoulos, Cohen, Rasiak, Habsi, Meite.

  Referee: P Dowd

  Conditions: Dry

  Attendance: Unknown

  Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Ryan Babel

  Breakdown

13:31 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Liverpool kick off attacking the goal to the right of the dugouts
3 mins : Bolton show their intentions from the off with two lofted free-kicks into the Reds area. So far Skrtel, Hyypia and co have dealt with them well
6 mins : Mascherano gives away a free-kick for a late challenge and the resulting ball in from Diouf arcs into the box and crashes off the bar. A huge let off for LFC
7 mins : The Reds have their first serious attack as a rapid break from Torres sees the Spaniard's delightful cross from the right just elude Babel at the far post
8 mins : Another chance for Bolton to load the reds area as Skrtel concedes a corner
9 mins : Gerrard hacks the ball off the line as Joey O'Brien's header beats Reina at the far post
11 mins : GOAL! Steven Gerrard: A speculative shot bounces in front of the keeper who can only watch on as it hits him and bounces in
13 mins : It had been a difficult start for LFC but that gift of a goal has given us the boost we needed. The Reds fans are shouting shoot at every opportunity now!
15 mins : A weaving run from Gerrard sees the skipper skin Steinsson but his cut-back eludes the red shirts in the box
18 mins : The hosts seem to have lost their way at the moment and Jaaskelainen looks particularly nervous following his mistake for the Reds goal
18 mins : But the Bolton stopper goes some way to making amends with a great save to deny Babel after the Dutchman slalomed past Steinsson
21 mins : Ryan Babel is certainly enjoying himself down the left and looks like beating Steinsson whenever he gets on-on-one with the defender
27 mins : A fantastic save from Reina. A great ball in from Nolan found Davies but his superb downward header was somehow kept out of the net by our Spanish number one
29 mins : That really was some save from Pepe! It looked a goal all the way for Davies
31 mins : Alonso releases El Nino but just when it looks like he is in on goal, Jaaskelainen comes to Bolton's aid
34 mins : The Reds are beginning to keep possession and dictate the play more after an end-to-end opening half hour
35 mins : First Booking: Sami Hyypia: A late challenge on Diouf earns Sami a yellow
36 mins : Another Bolton free-kick causes problems in the LFC box as a goalbound header from Davies is blocked by Skrtel
38 mins : A glorious chance for 2-0 goes begging. Gerrard sets Babel free but just as he looked to place the ball home Cahill gets across to deflect it over
40 mins : Kevin Nolan hammers a long range half volley way over Reina's crossbar
42 mins : Substitution: Grzegorz Rasiak for Gretar Rafn Steinsson:
44 mins : Ryan Babel again shows his class down the left, jinking past two before unleashing a ferocious drive that was well kept out by the Bolton keeper
45 mins : There will be a minimum of one minute added time
45 mins : Torres bursts into the box but his shot is well blocked
45 mins : First Booking: Grzegorz Rasiak:
14:18 GMT : Half Time Reached

14:34 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Bolton restart the match attacking the goal to the right of the dugouts
46 mins : Substitution: Tamir Cohen for Kevin Nolan:
49 mins : The Reds have begun the half in the ascendancy but have yet to trouble Jaaskelainen
50 mins : Carra can't beleive it as Diouf collapses to the ground and eanrs Bolton a breather in his own half
52 mins : And Diouf is at it again - this time he falls in the Reds area but the referee is not interested
53 mins : Torres releases Gerrard with a neat flick-on but Cahill gets across to concede a corner. From the resulting kick Liverpool eventually get a shot on target but Hyypia's overhead effort is easily claimed by Jaaskelainen
55 mins : The attendance today is 24,004
60 mins : GOAL! Ryan Babel: A fantastic move sees Kuyt hit the post but Babel is on hand to drill in at the near post
62 mins : Babel's eighth of the season and he even gave us a somersault in celebration
65 mins : It's been all Liverpool so far this half
67 mins : A bad mistake by Masch gifts the ball to Davies, but the diminutive midfielder instantly makes amends with a superb tackle to earn a song from the travelling Kop in recognition of his efforts
69 mins : A spell of more Reds pressure ends with Kuyt volleying well over after a corner from the left had found him in acres of space at the far post
71 mins : Gerrard's shot from 10 yards is blocked by an arm after a great exchange of passes down the left involving Babel and Aurelio. We've seen them given...
73 mins : The Reds have been carving Bolton open at will but a mistake by Reina almost gives the hosts a lifeline. However, despite having a clear sight of goal Davies drags his shot way wide
75 mins : GOAL! Fabio Aurelio: A wonderful volley from the edge of the box sees the Brazilian grab his first ever goal for the Reds
77 mins : Substitution: John Arne Riise for Fernando Torres:
79 mins : GOAL! Tamir Cohen: Avi Cohen's son heads in a corner to reduce the arrears
81 mins : Kevin Davies is lucky to still be on the field after appearing to stamp on Masch
82 mins : Kuyt fires over from eight yards after Riise had cut back from the byline
86 mins : Bolton are making a game of it late on but there are lots of spaces for LFC on the break too
86 mins : Substitution: Alvaro Arbeloa for Dirk Kuyt:
90 mins : The Travelling Kop are singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' They think it's all over. Rafa's on the verge of his first win at the Reebok
90 mins : There will be a minimum of two minutes added time
15:22 GMT : Match Over

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