Liverpool double beats Bolton

Liverpool maintained their quest for Champions League football with a 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers at Anfield here on Saturday.

Dirk Kuyt’s 37th minute goal and Kevin Davies’s second-half own goal left Liverpool just a point behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the Premier League.

The game, which had been overshadowed by Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez’s revelation he was being courted by Italian giants Juventus, ultimately brought the Merseysiders their second win of 2010 although there were still some anxious moments for a team clearly low in confidence at present.

Bolton made a bright start with Tamir Cohen – son of former Liverpool favourite Avi – chasing onto Matthew Taylor’s early flick as Bolton looked for their first Anfield win in 56 years.

However, the game soon settled down into a pattern of Liverpool dominating possession without producing the necessary quality in and around the Bolton penalty area.

But it was the visitors who had the first real chance when South Korean international Lee Chung-yong collected a loose ball on the halfway line and set off on a mesmeric run, past Emiliano Insua, Martin Skrtel and eventually keeper Pep Reina before his shot was cleared off the line by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

It would prove a vital clearance by the Greek defender as Liverpool’s pressure intensified.

Kuyt’s 20-yard strike flew well over before Alberto Aquilani had a shot blocked from Jamie Carragher’s 34th minute ball into the area.

Bolton then finally succumbed to Liverpool’s next meaningful attack.

Albert Riera’s cross-field pass found Insua, whose far post cross looked to be floating out of play until Aquilani leaped impressively and headed back across goal to leave Kuyt with the simple task of scoring from close range.

Liverpool showed great urgency, if not great finishing, at the start of the second half.

Javier Mascherano’s perfect cross-field ball set Steven Gerrard clear but the ball hung just long enough in the air for Mark Davies to get back and make a covering tackle.

The next Liverpool attack really should have brought results as Riera sped down the left and picked out Gerrard with a low, accurate cross into the Bolton area.

The England midfielder’s fierce, first-time shot was well saved by the diving Jaaskelainen but, with the goal at his mercy, David Ngog followed up and succeeded only in striking the top of the Bolton crossbar.

Aquilani almost set up a second goal, for team mate Gerrard, when he robbed Mark Davies of the ball in midfield with Gerrard’s venomous 20-yard strike forcing Jaaskelainen into another diving stop.

But the second goal Liverpool so desperately needed duly arrived, in fortunate fashion, in the 70th minute.

Lucas did well to keep a corner in play with a header back into the area and Ngog laid the ball back to the edge where Insua was lurking.

His 20-yard shot would have passed well wide of the mark but took a wicked deflection off Bolton forward Kevin Davies, wrong-footing Jaaskaleinen on its way into the net.

There were further half-chances for Kuyt and substitutes Lucas and Maxi Rodriguez but, against such mediocre opposition, the two goals Liverpool had already scored were enough to secure victory.