Premier League - Liverpool cruise past Bolton

Eurosport - Sat, 27 Dec 09:29:00 2008

Liverpool stayed one point clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League thanks to a 3-0 win over Bolton at Anfield.

2008-2009 Liverpool Robbie Keane celebrates scoring his second goal against Bolton - 0

A second-half brace from Robbie Keane and a first-half strike by Albert Riera secured the points for the hosts, who had earlier seen both their title rivals, Chelsea and Manchester United, win.

It was the first time in 20 days that any of the top three secured maximum points, although United have two games in hand after Club World Cup duty, and it was fitting that all three should win simultaneously.

Liverpool totally controlled the first half but only had one goal and one good chance to show for 75 per cent possession.

The visitors barely passed the halfway line, while Liverpool's back five were redundant.

Despite this it took a set-piece on 26 minutes to create the first meaningful opportunity, which Riera took with aplomb.

Steven Gerrard's corner was sent near post and, after whisper from Dan Agger, the Spanish winger raced across the area to prod the ball home as Johan Elmander recoiled instead of making a challenge.

Yossi Benayoun went close with a half-volley 11 minutes later but otherwise Liverpool were as toothless as they were dominant.

The second half was a different story as the hosts earned the score-line they deserved through two Keane goals in four minutes.

Keane had been heavily-criticised for a lack of goals in his short Liverpool career but, after his equaliser against Arsenal the previous week, he seems to finally be hitting form - and the back of the net.

On 53 minutes, Gerrard went on a driving run through midfield and spotted Keane move into space just to the left of the area.

Keane raced on to the through-ball and rifled a left-foot drive into the roof of the net past the helpless Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The Irishman's second - which sandwiched a great chance for Kuyt who mis-timed a diving header from Riera's superb cross - came from a similar counter-attack.

Pepe Reina released Xabi Alonso with a quick throw, the Spaniard went wide right to Benayoun and the Israeli pinged a low, first-time ball which Keane finished with ease.

The Reds were cruising and eased off their visitors, and they rested Riera, Gerrard and Kuyt while knocking the ball out with ease.

Substitute Ebi Smolarek almost grabbed a late consolation for Bolton when he fired inches wide after good midfield play by Fabrice Muamba, while Liverpool came close to extending their lead in the closing minutes but had to settle for a succession of corners and a spectacular double-save by Jaaskelainen deep into injury time.

The three-goal win also meant that Liverpool now have the same goal difference as third-placed United, who are seven points off the lead but with a maximum of six in hand.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. That's the way true champions play!

    From gordon.merk, on Mon 29 Dec 7:45AM

  2. kwjibo ..you're the one who is history! The­ champions league is just a new name for the european­ cup. Would you say the same about the world cup,­ because that has a new cup and name? Only the top clubs­ in europe who have won it five times are in the­ elite.
    Liverpool are the only british side who are in­ the elite!

    From COLIN F, on Sun 28 Dec 1:14AM

  3. chelski cant win the premier league they only know how­ to purchase it with russian money

    From John, on Sat 27 Dec 11:13PM

  4. Fantastic Result. Very happy for Keane too.

    From Suzy, on Sat 27 Dec 11:07PM

  5. go liverpool

    From kinkinohova, on Sat 27 Dec 2:26PM

  6. Bring it on Newcastle.

    From joan.bridge10, on Sat 27 Dec 12:26PM

  7. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: ­ PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGH-LIGHTS OF PREMIER­ LEAGUE MATCHES

    From , on Sat 27 Dec 12:15PM

  8. did you'll know that the epl tournament have been­ plan before they playing at the field???

    From jeff, on Sat 27 Dec 12:06PM

  9. hey lyndon have a look in the man u trophy cabinet­ english europeon and world champions 2008
    looserpool a­ trophy free zone so you keep admiring your dusty relics­ its all you have
    and remember last time you were top­ at xmas you finished fourth and man u came from fifth­ place to win the prem

    From moose1066, on Sat 27 Dec 11:45AM

  10. Post 103
    Yes please look at the league position

    From Nicholas, on Sat 27 Dec 10:47AM

  11. chelseatom by the way chelsea are 1st!

    From Nath, on Sat 27 Dec 10:34AM

  12. Riera is doing class at liverpool at the momment, same­ thing about Robbie Keane both played some brilliant­ football. Insua is doing well , He has not been playing­ for long on the pitch, Fernando Torres will make a­ speedy recovery soon.Chelsea have snatched the 1st­ place position the bad thing , but I am sure Liverpool­ will finish in the top 3. Chelsea aswell have done very­ well this season (So FAR) and same with Liverpool.

    From Nath, on Sat 27 Dec 10:32AM

  13. lyndon I did not know any of that ,so do's that­ badge also form part of the time when YOU lot got every­ english club banned

    From anthony h, on Sat 27 Dec 9:58AM

  14. on dirk kuyt
    pls refer to all of his goals
    his­ international goals also too
    he is one of those few­ strikers that offers the perfect headerhe was said to­ replace crouch
    yea

    From penyu, on Sat 27 Dec 8:56AM

  15. can aynone explain how Dirk Kuyt is picked every week?

    From evanskopite, on Sat 27 Dec 8:31AM

  16. """United won the Champions League 2­ times, Liverpool 1... The old cup is history­ ;)"""

    Liverpool have the Badge Of­ Distinction on their shirts. Man Utd don't.

    Only 5­ clubs are allowed to wear the Badge Of Distinction. The­ 5 clubs that have their own European Cup/Champions­ League trophy to keep forever. These 5 clubs are Real­ Madrid, AC Milan, Liverpool Bayern Munchen and Ajax.­ Man Utd are NOT amongst the very top clubs in European­ competition history. Liverpool are.

    You know the­ Champions League trophy that Man Utd won (or I should­ say 'fluked') in 1999? Well, Liverpool OWN it­ and it is on permanent display in the Anfield trophy­ cabinet. Har har!

    From Kim S, on Sat 27 Dec 8:23AM

  17. liverpool only top coz of cheating refs chelsea have­ been doing so good but all the refs givein pointless­ cards, free kicks so liverpool will stay up a bit­ longer but not to much

    From chelseatom, on Sat 27 Dec 7:55AM

  18. robie keane u have netted so many ball in de prea­ leauge u r now on the score sheet

    From david.khanna, on Sat 27 Dec 7:20AM

  19. liverpool mahu beli­ heskey,owen,velencia,D.villa,ZAKI,And
    moore­ plays.reina, carrger ,sktrel, agger ,aurelio reira­ ,
    alonso,gerrad,velencia,heskey,torres.
    substitues-­ owen-heskey
    zaki
    babel

    From arbintang64, on Sat 27 Dec 7:00AM

  20. Liverpool must run Newcastle ragged- keane you better­ get on the score sheet every game from now on. ManU 0­ Chelski 0 makes it three points clear

    From EleanaV, on Sat 27 Dec 6:55AM
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