NEMETH PUTS RESERVES EIGHT POINTS CLEAR

  A Krisztian Nemeth strike helped the reserves extend their lead at the top to eight points after a 1-0 win over Bolton on Tuesday night.

  The Hungarian's seventh goal in as many games came during a first-half in which Liverpool battered the visitors' goal.

  Gary Ablett's side had to hold tight in the second-half, however, to ensure a seventh consecutive clean sheet in the league.

  The game also saw Daniel Agger take a step closer to first-team action, the 23-year-old looking bright during a 60-minute run out.

  It was very much a game of two halves from a Liverpool point of view: excellent in the opening 45 but sloppy thereafter.

  The initial stages were spent very much on the front foot, with the first real chance coming just a few minutes in when Ryan Flynn flew down the right, though unfortunately Nemeth was too slow to react to the Scot's neat cross.

  From there, Jay Spearing hit the woodwork directly from a corner and Flynn forced a fine save from Adam Bogdan – one of two Hungarian 'keepers on the pitch. The latter chance came after a great lofted ball from Agger, who sprayed Xabi Alonso-style passes around the pitch at will during his time on the field.

  It was only a matter of time before the goal came – 14 minutes, if you want to be exact. The scorer was inevitable – that man Nemeth.

  Much of the credit must go to Ray Putterill, back in the side after making way for Harry Kewell last week, who dribbled down the left before delivering a low cross which made life easy for the predatory 19-year-old.

  Nemeth almost doubled his personal tally for the night on 23 minutes with a thunderbolt free-kick which would've made even John Arne Riise squirm. Bogdan was no doubt relieved to see the ferocious hit flash past the outside his post – not that there was any respite.

  His goal was under siege throughout the first half, with Flynn next up to prompt another excellent save, this time after great work from Emiliano Insua.

  Meanwhile, it was not just in the box where Nemeth was looking dangerous, for here is a striker who likes to drop deep, link play and show off his considerable ball skills.

  A flick here, a throughball there; is it any wonder Rafa Benitez is starting to take note?

  The home side – well, if you count Warrington as home – took a little time to get going following the restart, though a terrible challenge by Leslie Thompson on the outstanding Damien Plessis after 50 minutes certainly didn't help the flow of the game. Strangely, it was only a yellow from referee Merchant.

  'Pass it,' yelled Ablett from the sidelines, though his calls went unheeded.

  Now Bolton were starting to get ideas of their own. Peter Gulacsi was actually given a save to make a quarter of an hour into the second half, though he responded well.

  The gaffer shuffled his pack on 60 minutes, swapping Agger for the ever-improving Ronald Huth. It was another nice run out for the Dane, who continues his rehabilitation after five months on the sidelines with a metatarsal injury.

  Good news back on the pitch, too, where Jay Spearing was doing his best to inspire those around him. A terrific run down the right led to a dangerous ball into the box which Jaroslaw Fojut did very well to clear with Nemeth looming.

  A late scare came after a mistake from Mikel San Jose, with Zoltan Harsanyi finding himself free in the box only to shoot wide. His blushes were spared slightly by a late offside flag.

  Next up for the reserves is a crunch clash against second-placed Man City next Wednesday – a game which, as always, you can watch on LFC TV.

  Liverpoolfc.tv man-of-the-match: Krisztian Nemeth – another classy showing from the 19-year-old. A first-half display full of pace, intelligence and clinical finishing.

  Attendance: 1,149.

  Liverpool team: Gulacsi, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Agger (Huth 60), Plessis, Flynn (Crowther, 72), Spearing, Brouwer (Bruna 78), Nemeth, Putterill. Subs not used: Bouzanis, Kelly.

  Bolton Team: Bogdan, Sinclair, Carlisle, Dzemaili (Sheridan 75), Charlesworth, Fojut, Thompson, Sissons, Harsanyi, Wolze, Smith. Subs not used: Burns, Lainton, Jamieson, Woolfe.

  By Jimmy Rice at the Halliwell Jones Stadium

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