Saturday, August 27, 2011

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Bolton

Liverpool will expect to make it a perfect 10 wins on the trot over Saturday's opponents Bolton at Anfield.

Not since September 2006 has the Reds dropped points against the Trotters, when Sam Allardyce inflicted a 2-0 defeat upon his then counterpart Rafa Benitez.

Much has changed at both clubs since then, with Liverpool scoring 23 goals to Bolton's four in reply, taking in an impressive sequence of nine victories both home and away.

However, only Manchester City have scored more goals than Bolton in their opening two Premier League games this season, following a 4-0 opening win at Queens Park Rangers and a 3-2 home defeat to Roberto Mancini's side last time out.

Kenny Dalglish's side are unbeaten, though, with four points on the board following an opening-day Anfield draw with Sunderland, followed by a comfortable 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates.

Both sides were successful against lower league opposition in the Carling Cup in midweek, but changes are expected to be made upon the return of top flight football.

Liverpool Team News

Dalglish is yet to name the same side in Liverpool's opening three fixtures and has a fresh injury concern adding to the absence of club captain Steven Gerrard and full-back Glen Johnson.

Raul Meireles, who earned his first start in the midweek win at Exeter, was forced off in the 3-1 win at St James Park after a nasty fall on his collarbone. The extent of the midfielder's injury is yet to be revealed, but he can expect to play no part against Bolton.

Dalglish is likely to name the same back five, including goalkeeper Pepe Reina, which kept Arsenal at bay last Saturday, with full-backs Jose Enrique and Martin Kelly earning the right to support stand-in captain Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger at centre-half.

Lucas Leiva and Charlie Adam appear to be Dalglish's preferred central midfield pairing at present, and Stewart Downing can expect to start on the left flank, while Dirk Kuyt may return to the right.

With Andy Carroll, who replaced Meireles against the Grecians and scored Liverpool's third, is off the mark for the season and is likely to start alongside Luis Suarez, who has netted three goals in three games.

Bolton Team News

Tuncay Sanli has given Bolton boss Owen Coyle a selection headache, having come off the bench to single-handedly rescue the Trotters from defeat to Macclesfield Town on Wednesday.

The Turkish playmaker came off the bench to make his debut and spectacularly equalized with an aerial volley before setting up Martin Petrov for the winner.

Coyle has named an unchanged side in his two league encounters so far, though, so Tuncay may be forced to settle as a useful option from the bench.

Gretar Steinsson is struggling to keep his place after picking up a foot injury, and he will face a late fitness test.

And the game may come too soon for Ricardo Gardner to make the match squad as he continues to shrug off a groin strain, while Marcos Alonso, Sam Ricketts and Stuart Holden are all sidelined.

Chung-Yong Lee and Tyrone Mears are long-term absentees having each suffered a broken leg in pre-season.

Possible Starting XI

Liverpool: Reina, Enrique, Carragher, Agger, Kelly, Lucas, Adam, Downing, Kuyt, Suarez, Carroll.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Robinson, Knight, Cahill, Steinsson, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Petrov, Eagles, Klasnic, K Davies.

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