A first-half strike from Dirk Kuyt and an own goal from Kevin Davies saw Liverpool maintain their top four push with a 2-0 victory over Bolton on Saturday afternoon.
The Dutchman's close range finish eight minutes before the interval put the Reds in the driving seat before Emiliano Insua's deflected shot sealed the points to stretch our unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League to six matches.
For Wanderers boss Owen Coyle, the traditional 3pm clash saw him take his place in the visiting dugout for the second time this season, having previously led Burnley in their 4-0 defeat in in September.
The home faithful would have arrived at the ground hoping for a similar result against the Scot, as the Reds went up against a side that had kept just one clean sheet in their previous 21 matches on the road. The inclusion of Alberto Aquilani and David Ngog in the Liverpool starting Xi suggested the hosts were geared up to attack too and there was a confidence in the air that the statistic would be stretched to 22.
As the game got underway there was a noticeable difference in the Reds' formation with skipper Steven Gerrard alternating the right wing position with its usual occupant, Kuyt.
However, it was at the other end where the first threat occurred with Tamir Cohen seizing on a mistake by Martin Skrtel, only to see Pepe Reina deny him a goalscoring opportunity by gathering well at his feet.
As expected, Benitez's side began to take charge of the possession but despite some nice touches from Gerrard and Aquilani in particular, Jussi Jaaskelainen had remained largely untested as we approached the midway point in the first-half.
Murmurs of frustration began to echo around the stadium and although Gerrard and Ngog threatened to get in behind the visitors' rearguard, attempts on goal continued to be elusive.
A delightful run down the left from Emiliano Insua threatened to change that, but Kuyt could not stretch enough to apply the finish to his exquisite cross.
Reina had been a virtual bystander up until this point but he could so easily have been picking the ball out of an empty net, just seconds later.
Chung-Yong Lee broke through the middle of the Liverpool defence and rounded the Reds' stopper, only to see his low shot from a tight angle brilliantly blocked by the legs of Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
It was a warning for Benitez's men and they responded in the perfect way, by taking the lead with their first clear-cut opportunity of the match on 37 minutes.
A raking ball from Albert Riera found the unmarked Insua on the far left of Bolton's penalty area. The Argentine had the time to deliver a chipped cross to the far post where Aquilani rose to knock it down to Kuyt, who made no mistake from six yards out.
It was the Dutchman's ninth goal of the season and Liverpool's 50th of the campaign in all competitions; proving to be the perfect lift for the home side as they went in a goal to the good at the interval.
However, as if stung by the blow of conceding after looking comfortable for long periods, it was the away side that made the livelier start to the second 45.
A series of long throws and set pieces were hurled into the heart of the Liverpool penalty area, with Kyrgiakos imperious against the threat of Kevin Davies in the air.
On the counter, the hosts were putting some nice moves together and after a couple of nearly moments, only Ngog will know how he didn't double the advantage on 53 minutes.
Riera was given the freedom of Anfield to race clear down the left flank. With teammates arriving at pace, he cut the ball into the path of Gerrard whose low shot was beaten into the Frenchman's path by Jaaskelainen. It seemed inevitable the net would bulge, but the no. 24 got it all wrong inside the six yard box and skewed wide will the goal gaping.
The pattern of player continued as the half progressed, but it was now the home side who were creating the opportunities. Ngog saw a shot from inside the area well blocked while Jamie Carragher could have chipped in with a rare goal when he side-footed into a huddle of Bolton bodies after a corner was cleared to the edge of the box.
By now a second goal seemed inevitable for the Reds and it duly arrived 20 minutes from time.
The visitors cleared a short corner only as far as Ngog, whose lay-off set-up Insua to crash a 20 yarder into the left-hand corner courtesy of a massive deflection off Kevin Davies.
The home side could have extended their winning margin in the dying embers of the game through substitutes Lucas Leiva and Maxi Rodriguez, but it wasn't to be on a day that saw us clock up a landmark 50th league win over Bolton.
The Dutchman's close range finish eight minutes before the interval put the Reds in the driving seat before Emiliano Insua's deflected shot sealed the points to stretch our unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League to six matches.
For Wanderers boss Owen Coyle, the traditional 3pm clash saw him take his place in the visiting dugout for the second time this season, having previously led Burnley in their 4-0 defeat in in September.
The home faithful would have arrived at the ground hoping for a similar result against the Scot, as the Reds went up against a side that had kept just one clean sheet in their previous 21 matches on the road. The inclusion of Alberto Aquilani and David Ngog in the Liverpool starting Xi suggested the hosts were geared up to attack too and there was a confidence in the air that the statistic would be stretched to 22.
As the game got underway there was a noticeable difference in the Reds' formation with skipper Steven Gerrard alternating the right wing position with its usual occupant, Kuyt.
However, it was at the other end where the first threat occurred with Tamir Cohen seizing on a mistake by Martin Skrtel, only to see Pepe Reina deny him a goalscoring opportunity by gathering well at his feet.
As expected, Benitez's side began to take charge of the possession but despite some nice touches from Gerrard and Aquilani in particular, Jussi Jaaskelainen had remained largely untested as we approached the midway point in the first-half.
Murmurs of frustration began to echo around the stadium and although Gerrard and Ngog threatened to get in behind the visitors' rearguard, attempts on goal continued to be elusive.
A delightful run down the left from Emiliano Insua threatened to change that, but Kuyt could not stretch enough to apply the finish to his exquisite cross.
Reina had been a virtual bystander up until this point but he could so easily have been picking the ball out of an empty net, just seconds later.
Chung-Yong Lee broke through the middle of the Liverpool defence and rounded the Reds' stopper, only to see his low shot from a tight angle brilliantly blocked by the legs of Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
It was a warning for Benitez's men and they responded in the perfect way, by taking the lead with their first clear-cut opportunity of the match on 37 minutes.
A raking ball from Albert Riera found the unmarked Insua on the far left of Bolton's penalty area. The Argentine had the time to deliver a chipped cross to the far post where Aquilani rose to knock it down to Kuyt, who made no mistake from six yards out.
It was the Dutchman's ninth goal of the season and Liverpool's 50th of the campaign in all competitions; proving to be the perfect lift for the home side as they went in a goal to the good at the interval.
However, as if stung by the blow of conceding after looking comfortable for long periods, it was the away side that made the livelier start to the second 45.
A series of long throws and set pieces were hurled into the heart of the Liverpool penalty area, with Kyrgiakos imperious against the threat of Kevin Davies in the air.
On the counter, the hosts were putting some nice moves together and after a couple of nearly moments, only Ngog will know how he didn't double the advantage on 53 minutes.
Riera was given the freedom of Anfield to race clear down the left flank. With teammates arriving at pace, he cut the ball into the path of Gerrard whose low shot was beaten into the Frenchman's path by Jaaskelainen. It seemed inevitable the net would bulge, but the no. 24 got it all wrong inside the six yard box and skewed wide will the goal gaping.
The pattern of player continued as the half progressed, but it was now the home side who were creating the opportunities. Ngog saw a shot from inside the area well blocked while Jamie Carragher could have chipped in with a rare goal when he side-footed into a huddle of Bolton bodies after a corner was cleared to the edge of the box.
By now a second goal seemed inevitable for the Reds and it duly arrived 20 minutes from time.
The visitors cleared a short corner only as far as Ngog, whose lay-off set-up Insua to crash a 20 yarder into the left-hand corner courtesy of a massive deflection off Kevin Davies.
The home side could have extended their winning margin in the dying embers of the game through substitutes Lucas Leiva and Maxi Rodriguez, but it wasn't to be on a day that saw us clock up a landmark 50th league win over Bolton.
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