After losing their previous league fixture 4-1, the last team one would think that Premiership strugglers Bolton Wanderers would have wanted to face would be a member of the ‘Big Four.’
However, even though Gary Megson’s Bolton team were beaten by a convincing margin last time out against Blackburn Rovers, it is fair to say that the overall performance of his team was not one of a side asking to be thumped by a Premiership rival.
Indeed, had it not been for some terrible refereeing and wasteful finishing, then an important victory could have been claimed by The Trotters in their fight for Premiership survival.
With Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool side now making their way to the Reebok Stadium, the Bolton fans will be hoping that their side will be able to build on the positive elements of the Blackburn game and inflict yet another body blow to Liverpool’s stuttering Premiership campaign.
For this to happen, Megson will need to bring out the type of performance from his players that has seen them come out on top in their recent UEFA Cup tie against Liga big boys Atlético Madrid, and beat Premiership champions Manchester United in his first fixture in charge of the club.
The Bolton manager will, however, be perfectly aware that the damage inflicted on his Bolton side last week by Benni McCarthy and Roque Santa Cruz has every chance of being replicated by Liverpool’s exquisite number 9, Fernando Torres.
Quite simply, Bolton must keep the Spanish international striker quiet to stand any chance of further derailing Liverpool’s Champions League qualification hopes, as they cannot rely on their own strikers to convert enough opportunities at the other end of the pitch.
If this does occur, then there is a chance that an unlikely few points could be gained in Bolton’s fight to beat the dreaded Premiership drop.
What a strange few weeks this has been for everyone associated with Liverpool Football Club. From the lows caused by a shock defeat to Championship team Barnsley in the F.A. Cup, to then beating reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan in their next fixture, consistency has not been a byword for Liverpool’s performance so far this year.
Another high point was seen last weekend in the Reds' 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough, when the Kop’s new idol Fernando Torres managed to score his first Premiership hat trick for the club.
However, this fixture can be seen to be a microcosm of Liverpool’s season so far, as from the highs of Torres’ headline grabbing performance, the actual nature of the Reds display left more than enough to be desired.
It is not often that Gareth Southgate’s men will be able to walk away from Anfield feeling aggrieved at the result, but this was the kind of display that such feelings can come from.
Rafa Benitez will though be more than aware of the threat that Bolton can cause to the Premiership elite at their Reebok home, and with Fernando Torres in his team, he will feel he has the weaponry to overcome this obstacle.
With no mid-week Champions League fixture to distract Benitez from selecting his strongest starting XI, it is imperative that Liverpool get back on the trail of usurping local rivals Everton in the race for 4th place, and the final Champions League qualifying position.
As such, a Bolton team devoid of the attacking talents of Nicolas Anelka should be easily brushed aside by a Liverpool team possessing far too much talent to be tripped up by their lowly North Western neighbours. However, as with all things to do with the Reds so far this season, nothing can be considered entirely predictable.
However, even though Gary Megson’s Bolton team were beaten by a convincing margin last time out against Blackburn Rovers, it is fair to say that the overall performance of his team was not one of a side asking to be thumped by a Premiership rival.
Indeed, had it not been for some terrible refereeing and wasteful finishing, then an important victory could have been claimed by The Trotters in their fight for Premiership survival.
With Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool side now making their way to the Reebok Stadium, the Bolton fans will be hoping that their side will be able to build on the positive elements of the Blackburn game and inflict yet another body blow to Liverpool’s stuttering Premiership campaign.
For this to happen, Megson will need to bring out the type of performance from his players that has seen them come out on top in their recent UEFA Cup tie against Liga big boys Atlético Madrid, and beat Premiership champions Manchester United in his first fixture in charge of the club.
The Bolton manager will, however, be perfectly aware that the damage inflicted on his Bolton side last week by Benni McCarthy and Roque Santa Cruz has every chance of being replicated by Liverpool’s exquisite number 9, Fernando Torres.
Quite simply, Bolton must keep the Spanish international striker quiet to stand any chance of further derailing Liverpool’s Champions League qualification hopes, as they cannot rely on their own strikers to convert enough opportunities at the other end of the pitch.
If this does occur, then there is a chance that an unlikely few points could be gained in Bolton’s fight to beat the dreaded Premiership drop.
What a strange few weeks this has been for everyone associated with Liverpool Football Club. From the lows caused by a shock defeat to Championship team Barnsley in the F.A. Cup, to then beating reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan in their next fixture, consistency has not been a byword for Liverpool’s performance so far this year.
Another high point was seen last weekend in the Reds' 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough, when the Kop’s new idol Fernando Torres managed to score his first Premiership hat trick for the club.
However, this fixture can be seen to be a microcosm of Liverpool’s season so far, as from the highs of Torres’ headline grabbing performance, the actual nature of the Reds display left more than enough to be desired.
It is not often that Gareth Southgate’s men will be able to walk away from Anfield feeling aggrieved at the result, but this was the kind of display that such feelings can come from.
Rafa Benitez will though be more than aware of the threat that Bolton can cause to the Premiership elite at their Reebok home, and with Fernando Torres in his team, he will feel he has the weaponry to overcome this obstacle.
With no mid-week Champions League fixture to distract Benitez from selecting his strongest starting XI, it is imperative that Liverpool get back on the trail of usurping local rivals Everton in the race for 4th place, and the final Champions League qualifying position.
As such, a Bolton team devoid of the attacking talents of Nicolas Anelka should be easily brushed aside by a Liverpool team possessing far too much talent to be tripped up by their lowly North Western neighbours. However, as with all things to do with the Reds so far this season, nothing can be considered entirely predictable.
FORM GUIDE
Bolton Wanderers:
February 24th vs. Blackburn Rovers (A) lost 4-1 (PREM)
February 21st vs. Atlético Madrid (A) drew 0-0 (UEFA CUP)
February 14th vs. Atlético Madrid (H) won 1-0 (UEFA CUP)
February 9th vs. Portsmouth (H) lost 1-0 (PREM)
February 2nd vs. Reading (A) won 2-0 (PREM)
Liverpool:
February 23rd vs. Middlesbrough (H) won 3-2 (PREM)
February 19th vs. Inter Milan (H) won 2-0 (CHAMPS LG)
February 16th vs. Barnsley (H) lost 2-1 (FA CUP)
February 10th vs. Chelsea (A) drew 0-0 (PREM)
February 2nd vs. Sunderland (H) won 3-0 (PREM)
TEAM NEWS
Bolton Wanderers:
Gary Megson should be able to call on the vast majority of his Bolton squad for this fixture, with the only players unavailable for selection being the injured Heidar Helguson and midfielder Danny Guthrie, who is ineligible to play due to the fact he is on loan to the club from Sunday’s rivals, Liverpool.
Squad: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, A O'Brien, Cahill, Meite, J O'Brien, Steinsson, Gardner, Stelios, Nolan, Campo, Cohen, Taylor, Diouf, Davies, Samuel, McCann, Al Habsi, Alonso, Teymourian.
Liverpool:
Much to the delight of the Liverpool fans, Danish centre back Danny Agger may be involved in this game after a successful run out for the Liverpool reserves in mid-week. January signing Martin Skrtel should also be available for selection again after overcoming a short term injury. Indeed, the only guaranteed absentee for Rafa Benitez’s side is Andrei Voronin, who is making a steady recovery from an ankle ligament injury sustained in January.
Squad: Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Agger, Carragher, Hyypia, Aurelio, Riise, Babel, Kewell, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Benayoun, Torres, Kuyt, Crouch, Lucas, Itandje.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bolton Wanderers: In a team that has been short of goals since the sale of Nicolas Anelka, January signing Gary Cahill will have to play a major role in stopping the Liverpool attack if Bolton are to take anything from this game. Gary Megson will be looking to the assured displays Cahill has exhibited since his £5 million pound move from Aston Villa, and will be hoping that the reckless challenge that led to the second of Blackburn’s penalty’s at the weekend was just a momentary aberration. As such, Cahill should be under no illusions that a repeat of this kind of defending will be punished severely by Spanish hot shot Fernando Torres.
Liverpool: After his hat trick against Middlesbrough, it is hard to look to anyone else other than Fernando Torres when naming Liverpool’s key player. The ex-Atlético man has been nothing short of a revelation since his big money summer transfer, and has often been the source of Rafa Benitez’s salvation in a disappointing campaign so far. Interestingly, the suspect Bolton defence could provide plenty of opportunities for Torres to close in on Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s record for the most goals scored in a player’ first season in the Premiership, with El Nino currently sitting nine goals short of the Dutchman’s 24 goal mark.
Bolton Wanderers:
February 24th vs. Blackburn Rovers (A) lost 4-1 (PREM)
February 21st vs. Atlético Madrid (A) drew 0-0 (UEFA CUP)
February 14th vs. Atlético Madrid (H) won 1-0 (UEFA CUP)
February 9th vs. Portsmouth (H) lost 1-0 (PREM)
February 2nd vs. Reading (A) won 2-0 (PREM)
Liverpool:
February 23rd vs. Middlesbrough (H) won 3-2 (PREM)
February 19th vs. Inter Milan (H) won 2-0 (CHAMPS LG)
February 16th vs. Barnsley (H) lost 2-1 (FA CUP)
February 10th vs. Chelsea (A) drew 0-0 (PREM)
February 2nd vs. Sunderland (H) won 3-0 (PREM)
TEAM NEWS
Bolton Wanderers:
Gary Megson should be able to call on the vast majority of his Bolton squad for this fixture, with the only players unavailable for selection being the injured Heidar Helguson and midfielder Danny Guthrie, who is ineligible to play due to the fact he is on loan to the club from Sunday’s rivals, Liverpool.
Squad: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, A O'Brien, Cahill, Meite, J O'Brien, Steinsson, Gardner, Stelios, Nolan, Campo, Cohen, Taylor, Diouf, Davies, Samuel, McCann, Al Habsi, Alonso, Teymourian.
Liverpool:
Much to the delight of the Liverpool fans, Danish centre back Danny Agger may be involved in this game after a successful run out for the Liverpool reserves in mid-week. January signing Martin Skrtel should also be available for selection again after overcoming a short term injury. Indeed, the only guaranteed absentee for Rafa Benitez’s side is Andrei Voronin, who is making a steady recovery from an ankle ligament injury sustained in January.
Squad: Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Agger, Carragher, Hyypia, Aurelio, Riise, Babel, Kewell, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Benayoun, Torres, Kuyt, Crouch, Lucas, Itandje.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bolton Wanderers: In a team that has been short of goals since the sale of Nicolas Anelka, January signing Gary Cahill will have to play a major role in stopping the Liverpool attack if Bolton are to take anything from this game. Gary Megson will be looking to the assured displays Cahill has exhibited since his £5 million pound move from Aston Villa, and will be hoping that the reckless challenge that led to the second of Blackburn’s penalty’s at the weekend was just a momentary aberration. As such, Cahill should be under no illusions that a repeat of this kind of defending will be punished severely by Spanish hot shot Fernando Torres.
Liverpool: After his hat trick against Middlesbrough, it is hard to look to anyone else other than Fernando Torres when naming Liverpool’s key player. The ex-Atlético man has been nothing short of a revelation since his big money summer transfer, and has often been the source of Rafa Benitez’s salvation in a disappointing campaign so far. Interestingly, the suspect Bolton defence could provide plenty of opportunities for Torres to close in on Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s record for the most goals scored in a player’ first season in the Premiership, with El Nino currently sitting nine goals short of the Dutchman’s 24 goal mark.
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