Liverpool travel to Bolton on Saturday evening well aware anything less than three points at the Reebok Stadium will cast serious doubts over their already flagging top-four ambitions.
A seventh Premier League draw of the season at Anfield in last weekend's dire stalemate against Stoke has left the 18-time champions of England five points adrift of fourth place.
And should Kenny Dalglish's team fail to win at a relegation-threatened Bolton, who have themselves been wretched at home in 2011/12, the pressure will mount.
Owen Coyle's team have incredibly lost eight times out of 10 league games at the Reebok Stadium and have conceded 24 goals in that time to leave them 19th in the table.
But a rare win over Liverpool could lift Bolton, who has sold Gary Cahill to Chelsea since their last league game, out of the relegation zone if results elsewhere go their way, given that they only trail 16th-placed Wolves by two points.
Ominously for Bolton, though, Liverpool have won the last 10 Premier League games between the two clubs, including in August a comprehensive 3-1 victory at Anfield and last season a late 1-0 success at the Reebok Stadium.
David Ngog is set to face former club Liverpool for the first time since his £4million summer move.
The striker is likely to replace Kevin Davies, who scored in Tuesday's FA Cup third-round replay win over Macclesfield.
Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen has returned to training after a thigh injury, although the Finn is not expected to be ready to start.
Midfielder Jay Spearing faces a late fitness test for Liverpool after the 23-year-old missed the game against Stoke with a hamstring injury.
Centre-back Daniel Agger is set to return after being rested, which could mean Jamie Carragher loses his place after his first league start in over two months.
Striker Luis Suarez is still suspended and serves the fifth match of his eight-game ban for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
Possible starting XIs
Bolton: Bogdan, Steinsson, Knight, Wheater, Ricketts, Eagles, Petrov, Reo-Coker, M.Davies, Muamba, Ngog.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Adam, Gerrard, Henderson, Kuyt, Bellamy, Carroll.
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