Gerrard´s late winner gets Liverpool back on track

Liverpool got their spluttering campaign back on track as Steven Gerrard’s late goal sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory at 10-man Bolton on Saturday.

Rafael Benitez’s team were trailing 2-1 when the game erupted in the 55th minute after Sean Davis was sent off for a second yellow card in an increasingly ill-tempered match.

After Davis’s dismissal, Fernando Torres levelled for Liverpool, scoring his third goal in as many games by lashing the ball over Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen after it had been chested down by Dirk Kuyt.

With their one-man advantage, Liverpool peppered the Bolton goal and Gerrard’s powerful volley from the edge of the area in the 83rd minute stole the points.

After challenging Manchester United for the league title last season, Liverpool had slumped to their worst start to a season in six years, with losses against Tottenham and Aston Villa sandwiched between a 4-0 win over Stoke.

Those two defeats were as many as Liverpool had all of last season and Benitez questioned the desire of senior players, in particularly Gerrard.

But Benitez got a response after Liverpool had twice fallen behind to Bolton goals from Kevin Davies and Tamir Cohen, the club’s first league strikes of the season.

Greek international Sotirios Kygriakos made his Liverpool debut after a run out in the reserves last week. He replaced Martin Skrtel, who has a jaw injury, while Albert Reira replaced Yossi Benayoun from last week.

After a low-key start, Bolton took a shock lead in the 33rd minute, scoring from their first shot on goal with help from lacklustre Liverpool defending.

Matthew Taylor’s corner reached Johan Elmander at the far post and he headed back across to Davies, who sidefooted in.

Liverpool’s pace picked up immediately and they levelled in the 41st minute.

Gerrard’s corner was cleared out to Glen Johnson, who was standing outside the area. The defender took his time and directed the ball through the crowded box into goal.

The goals sparked life into the game and both sides nearly added to the score. Lucas Leiva fired a shot over in the 44th and a minute later, Taylor’s powerful free kick had to be palmed over by goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Liverpool had the better chances before the goals, with Lucas, Torres, Johnson and Albert Reira all missing chances.

Bolton had the edge early in the second half, with Cohen, whose father Avi played for Liverpool in the 1980s, putting Bolton 2-1 ahead in the 47th.

Cohen earned the free kick that Jaaskelainen took in the Wanderers’ half, then scored after taking a pass from Davies.

But then Davis was dismissed after a clash with Lucas and Torres’s equaliser moments later changed the momentum of the match.

The Reebok Stadium was the site of Benitez’s first defeat as Liverpool manager, in September 2006, but Wanderers have now lost their last six matches against the Reds after Gerrard’s late winner.