Two-goal hero Robbie Keane today praised the "outstanding" team effort which helped table toppers Liverpool end their seven week wait for a league win at Anfield.
Having drawn consecutive home games against Fulham, West Ham and Hull, the Reds went into yesterday's clash with Bolton knowing that they needed to take all three points if they were to retain top spot.
After Albert Riera had given them a first half lead, Keane scored a superb second half double as Liverpool recorded their second 3-0 home win of the season.
Despite having produced arguably his finest performance in a red shirt since moving to Anfield in a £20m summer move from Spurs, the Irish striker refused to take the credit, preferring to spread the praise throughout the ranks.
And he also acknowledged the importance of Liverpool getting back to winning ways in front of their own fans.
"It was a good performance by the team from start to finish," he said. "It was important that we took all three points, especially after the last few games at home when we haven't got the results we have been looking for.
"But the best thing about it was that it wasn't just a win, it was a convincing win and it sets us up nicely for the Newcastle game later today."
Keane hailed Riera's opener as the catalyst to Liverpool's dominant display and believes grabbing a goal in the first half made life easier for them in the rest of the game.
With title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea both winning as well, the battle at the top of the Premier League is becoming increasingly fierce, but Keane remains adamant Liverpool should focus only on their own form and no one else's.
"We can't afford to concentrate on what anyone else is doing," he said. "All we can do is focus on our own games and I thought we were outstanding from start to finish against Bolton.
"They've been on a decent run of late but I can't remember them having a shot on goal and that shows how well we did.
"It was important for our confidence.
"We've been drawing games that we should have been winning but sometimes games aren't always as easy as people might think.
"Because of that it was really important that we got the first goal. That helped open Bolton up a bit and from that point on we were attacking them more and more."
Liverpool have no new injury worries ahead of today's game at Newcastle and having watched the victory over Bolton from the directors’ box, Rafa Benitez is hopeful of being back in the dugout.
Having drawn consecutive home games against Fulham, West Ham and Hull, the Reds went into yesterday's clash with Bolton knowing that they needed to take all three points if they were to retain top spot.
After Albert Riera had given them a first half lead, Keane scored a superb second half double as Liverpool recorded their second 3-0 home win of the season.
Despite having produced arguably his finest performance in a red shirt since moving to Anfield in a £20m summer move from Spurs, the Irish striker refused to take the credit, preferring to spread the praise throughout the ranks.
And he also acknowledged the importance of Liverpool getting back to winning ways in front of their own fans.
"It was a good performance by the team from start to finish," he said. "It was important that we took all three points, especially after the last few games at home when we haven't got the results we have been looking for.
"But the best thing about it was that it wasn't just a win, it was a convincing win and it sets us up nicely for the Newcastle game later today."
Keane hailed Riera's opener as the catalyst to Liverpool's dominant display and believes grabbing a goal in the first half made life easier for them in the rest of the game.
With title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea both winning as well, the battle at the top of the Premier League is becoming increasingly fierce, but Keane remains adamant Liverpool should focus only on their own form and no one else's.
"We can't afford to concentrate on what anyone else is doing," he said. "All we can do is focus on our own games and I thought we were outstanding from start to finish against Bolton.
"They've been on a decent run of late but I can't remember them having a shot on goal and that shows how well we did.
"It was important for our confidence.
"We've been drawing games that we should have been winning but sometimes games aren't always as easy as people might think.
"Because of that it was really important that we got the first goal. That helped open Bolton up a bit and from that point on we were attacking them more and more."
Liverpool have no new injury worries ahead of today's game at Newcastle and having watched the victory over Bolton from the directors’ box, Rafa Benitez is hopeful of being back in the dugout.
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