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

Comment 58 - 77 of 117

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    why dont scousers wake up you a little team in big boy­ league next you say hull win champions league

    From mancal1917, on Fri 26 Dec 10:00PM

  2. comment 63 isnt a football fan, he's a phalic­ cracker out to wind people up.he prolly supports man u,­ the world [funny as f*ck] club champions, they played 3­ games to decide there the best club in the world? was­ this cup containing teams from all 5 continents? lol.­ anyway, they called it a mickey mouse cup when­ liverpool won it, man u only entered for the money,and­ today they came down to earth with a reality check, had­ they played stoke in the world club championship theyd­ have come hom without a trophy

    From !, on Fri 26 Dec 9:59PM

  3. this is to brainless who must be chelsea /manc fan get­ a life u sad d@@khead lfc fan

    From ljetaylor, on Fri 26 Dec 9:49PM

  4. Liverpool will win the title in May cause if you want­ something bad enough its only a matter of time till it­ happens and Liverpool def have the strength and depth­ in their squad this season and we have not even been at­ our best yet!

    From nickreber, on Fri 26 Dec 9:37PM

  5. 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 Fri 26 Dec 8:54PM

  6. HEADLINES AND THE NUMBER OF COMMENTS

    1) LIVERPOOL­ CRUISE TO WIN OVER BOLTON 72 COMMENTS
    2) ASTON­ LATE GOAL STUN ARSENAL 49 COMMENTS
    3)­ CHELSEA BACK ON TRACK 21­ COMMENTS

    I BET YOU ALL THESE GUYS LOVE LIVERPOOL, THE­ FANS AND ITS GLORY.

    From Michael, on Fri 26 Dec 8:52PM

  7. comment 70, amsmith11, ManU are favourites, no doubt,­ yet may I suggest that you hold your hat too? Let's­ wait until mid-March when we meet again and the­ scoreline will have been settled to a major part, ok?

    From gordon.merk, on Fri 26 Dec 8:49PM

  8. Keep winning Everton, European place here we come

    From Glyn D, on Fri 26 Dec 8:30PM

  9. His armband said he was a red TORRES, TORRES!!!!!!!

    From elnino, on Fri 26 Dec 8:24PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Has nobody got anything better to do than slag each­ other off - We'll see who are Champions when­ it's all over and not before, so hold on to your­ hats all you scallies, mancs and sad blues coz it's­ going to be a bumpy ride for you all. But United will­ still finish on top.

    From Tony, on Fri 26 Dec 8:16PM

  11. A good win today for liverpool but we still need a­ striker. Michael Owen for a perfect xmas present at­ probably the best value of 4 million. We'll win the­ premiership if he's back.

    From Howard, on Fri 26 Dec 8:14PM

  12. comment 63: granted, brainless, some Reds fans may have­ lost touch with reality and are talking too big words,­ yet not all are brainless, so calling them the worst in­ the world is an inappropriate comment. I seek to be­ more realistic, so I see the weaknesses, yet also their­ chances - and they are valid, no doubt.

    From gordon.merk, on Fri 26 Dec 8:05PM

  13. @#$% you brainless

    From Creaven91, on Fri 26 Dec 8:03PM

  14. Comment 64: vincentsam2001, I think so too - let's­ hope for the best, even if it will take another season­ or two. One thing is for sure, Rafa has set the Reds in­ the top run of both English and European football. More­ to come, the best yet!

    From gordon.merk, on Fri 26 Dec 8:00PM

  15. Robbie finally seems warmed up to score. May he score­ in every game from now on...

    From gordon.merk, on Fri 26 Dec 7:58PM

  16. i am glad that keane has hit form at the minute­ -especially with Torres being out injured.I am also­ glad that they are top of the league,and hope that they­ stay there,as tthere is still the rest of the champions­ league to come and all the other cup comps.i have been­ a supported of pool since 1974.I think they can do it­ this seaon

    From vincent, on Fri 26 Dec 7:48PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Liverpool fans are the worst in the world. Liverpool is­ ONE point ahead of Chelsea and probably ManU, that­ means any bad result and they fall down, yet their fans­ behave like if they are 20 points clear.. They make me­ wish their team loose just to see the faces they have­ after their big mouths talk like if they are used to­ winning championship.. next week probably? :-)

    From Half A Brain, on Fri 26 Dec 7:39PM

  18. One thing is for certain, the season is only half way­ through, with loads of surprises in store. All the­ nonsense comments like that of alanslevin62 comment is­ a load of shortlived nonsense. The positions remain­ unchanged with the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool­ looking over their shoulders, and shall continue to do­ so until Manchester United push them from the top of­ the table. I still think that it shall end up with­ Manchester United winning and Chelsea finishing second,­ unless there are major upsets along the way. So for the­ likes of Liverpool fans, I wouldn't be screaming­ yet, I would save the cries for your possible fall in­ the very near future.
    To alanslevin62, could the­ reason why Liverpool hasn't won the Premiership, be­ that they and their hangers on have been living in past­ glory for too long now?

    From sappercommando25, on Fri 26 Dec 7:35PM

  19. keano

    From jerry, on Fri 26 Dec 7:27PM

  20. you lots are nutts

    From ROBERT W, on Fri 26 Dec 7:26PM
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