Premier League: Liverpool 2 Bolton 1

Substitute Joe Cole snatched an injury-time winner as Liverpool beat Bolton 2-1 and eased the pressure on under-fire manager Roy Hodgson.

Kevin Davies nodded the visitors in front from Matthew Taylor’s cross, but Fernando Torres volleyed a second-half equaliser for the struggling Reds in front of the Anfield faithful.

Cole then stole the three points for the hosts at the end of the game from close range after good work from Maxi Rodriguez.It was a slow start for the home side at a below-capacity Anfield and Liverpool took a while to wake up, but nearly took the lead on 20 minutes when Torres’ shot was deflected into the path of Maxi, who saw his powerful shot cleared off the line by Matthew Taylor.After that early chance, Liverpool did not create a lot more and were made to pay when Kevin Davies opened the scoring just before the break.Matthew Taylor whipped a free-kick into the area and Davies cleverly lost his man before burying a header at the far post.It should have been level at the break but Lucas spurned a golden opportunity to score when Dirk Kuyt unselfishly squared the ball, but the Brazilian stabbed wide with the goal at his mercy.There was a chorus of boos from the Liverpool supporters at half-time but after the break, the Merseysiders rallied with Torres netting a vital equalising goal shortly after play resumed.

Steven Gerrard picked out the Spaniard’s run brilliantly, and he sent a powerful volley into the roof of the net barely five minutes after the restart.As the half progressed, the Bolton defence took a battering in front of the Kop end, and Gerrard sent a volley just over the bar.Maxi Rodriguez had the chance to score next, but his shot was charged down by an army of defenders.Substitute Joe Cole finally proved the difference between the two sides when he bundled home in injury time to secure the points for Liverpool.