Bolton Wanderers 0 - 1 Liverpool
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Owen Coyle ready to arrest Reds' recent supremacy
Reebok Revivals
The feel-good factor under Coyle has revitalised Bolton, while Hodgson finally had a week to enjoy since he took over at Liverpool.
Although disappointed to grab just a point against Wigan, the hosts' eighth spot in the table has been well earned, with the bitterness from Gary Megson's reign now just a memory.
Liverpool would kill to be in the same place after a disastrous beginning under Hodgson condemned them to 18th. But following a draw in Napoli and a win against Blackburn, the slow climb up the standings could continue if all three points are claimed.
History Book Horror
Bolton will be looking to reverse recent history after having become Liverpool's whipping boys.
The Anfield outfit have enjoyed a six-match winning streak against their weekend opponents after they previously traded results in the early part of the decade. Coyle will be keen to arrest the slide to continue the push into the upper echelons of the table.
What the Scot will not target is the disappointment of last season's 3-2 defeat at the Reebok under Megson. Bolton failed to follow up taking the lead twice and fell to a late Steven Gerrard strike.
TEAM NEWS
Bolton Wanderers
Manager Owen Coyle is able to call on all his big hitters for the visit of Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the hot-tempered draw at Wigan Athletic last weekend, no fresh injuries have reared their heads. Squad men Ricardo Gardner (thigh), Andy O'Brien (hamstring) and Jlloyd Samuel (calf) still remain sidelined for the coming weeks, with Joe O'Brien (knee) and Sean Davis (knee) out for lengthier periods.
Ivan Klasnic has been named in the matchday squad after his arrest and bail this week.
Probable starting XI: Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Lee, Holden, Muamba, Petrov; Elmander, Davies
Liverpool
The Reds travel to the Reebok with a midweek reserves defeat to Huddersfield Town having had an impact on boss Roy Hodgson's options.
A knock to Ryan Babel (ribs) that demanded hospital treatment has put his place in jeopardy. More positively, Fabio Aurelio (Achilles) enjoyed a 60-minute run out.
Daniel Agger (illness) is believed to be back in contention, with Glen Johnson (hamstring) has been handed an outside chance. Dirk Kuyt (ankle) is still a week away from a return.
Probable starting XI: Reina; Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Konchesky; Maxi, Gerrard, Lucas, Cole, Raul Meireles; Torres -
I think Reina and Torres will be leaving in Jan 2011.
Torres is playing without any heart on the pitch.
It is not whether Ah Roy is doing the job.
Every players are playing on their own with no coordination and tactics.
It seems like Ah Roy just put twelve players on the pitch and ask them to play.
He just sitting by the side line and not doing anything but showing a sad face.
Ah Roy is lost in motivating his players.
It is a worrying situation.
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Originally posted by Medicated Oil:
It seems like Ah Roy just put twelve players on the pitch and ask them to play.
lol
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Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Liverpool: Maxi Rodriguez Nets Late Winner As Reds Move Clear Of Drop Zone With First Away Win
Hodgson's men have now won two straight.
Liverpool raced out of the Premier League relegation zone as a late Maxi Rodriguez goal sealed a 1-0 victory against Bolton Wanderers.
The result saw Roy Hodgson's men climb to 12th place in the table after an afternoon to forget was arrested by the Argentine. Bolton remained in the top half of the standings as they couldn't repeat the 2-2 draw with Manchester United from September.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle was forced to make one change from the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic last weekend after Martin Petrov pulled out with a hamstring injury. Free-kick specialist Matthew Taylor was drafted in to fill the vacated left-wing spot.
Opposite number Roy Hodgson kept faith in the same starting eleven that gained the morale boosting 2-1 victory against Blackburn Rovers seven days ago.
Liverpool took control of proceedings from kick-off as Bolton began tentatively. A midfield slip in the eight minute from the host's allowed Steven Gerrard to play Fernando Torres clean through on goal for the first chance of the match.
In a style that befitted his poor start to the season, the Spaniard lacked conviction and acceleration as he cut back inside and was crowded out by Gary Cahill and Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Stuart Holden then began to get his foot on the ball and passed Bolton back into the match. The United States international stung the hands of Pepe Reina in the 23rd minute after his volley from the edge of the box drew a gasp from the Reebok Stadium support.
Chung-Yong Lee - who alternated flanks with Taylor - was then played into the Liverpool penalty area three minutes later. An excellent tackle from Jamie Carragher on the cover drew cries from the crowd that were correctly waved away by referee Martin Atkinson.
The teams continued to trade opportunities for the rest of the half. Muambu blasted a shot marginally wide in the 37th minute before Gerrard should have done better when he spooned a shot from the edge of the area on the stroke of injury time.
Bolton burst out of the traps in the second period and Paul Konchesky denied Johan Elamder on the back post with a fine interception.
As Bolton continued to push, a foray up the pitch for Liverpool saw Joe Cole fall to the ground in pain in the 62nd minute. Another disappointing afternoon for the summer signing came to an end and he was taken off for David Ngog.
Despite the pressure, chances were still at a premium for Coyle's men. This approach was nearly punished in the 66th minute when Sotirios Kyrgiakos headed a corner just over.
The previously ineffectual Maxi Rodriguez then burst into life in the 70th minute after he was played in by Gerrard. The Argentine followed his deep cross to Torres with a bicycle kick from the Spaniard's knock down that, again, just went over the cross bar.
Bolton then went up the pitch and forced a deflection from an Elmander shot that went just wide for a corner in the 72nd minute. The dead ball from Taylor was then met by the powerful Zat Knight but his effort was off target.
Kevin Davies continued to unsettle Liverpool's defence and he was felled out wide by Martin Skrtel on 75 minutes. The England international couldn't quite get enough purchase on a header from Taylor's subsequent free-kick to nudge the ball into Reina's net.
Torres' Reebok misery came to an end in the 86th minute as he provided the assist for Maxi in stylish fashion. The ex-Atletico Madrid team-mates combined after a delightful flick fed the Argentine who fired in from close range despite a touch from Jaaskelainen's legs.
Bolton pushed in vain for an equaliser but couldn't forge an opportunity in the remaining minutes. A defeat was hard to stomach for Coyle, but the final whistle came as music to Hodgson's ears. -
i wouldn't blame torres and reina if they leave.