[Liverweb] Bolton Match Report

Liverweb Match Report

Bolton Wanderers 2 Liverpool 2

Liverpool : Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Gerrard(C), Sissoko,
Hamann, Kewell, Pongolle, Crouch

Subs Used : Garcia for Pongolle (62), Alonso for Hamann (65), Cisse for
Sissoko (84)

Subs Unused : Riise, Carson

Ref : M.Clattenburg

Att : 27,604

Start stuff. The Reds made four changes to their starting lineup with
Traore, Hamann, Sissoko and Pongolle all starting. The Reds looked a tired
side at times in this game on a very poor pitch. It wasn't a great game
though with neither side looking great.

Liverpool got the game underway but didn't really start very well. After a
slow start the Reds went behind after just ten minutes. A very poor free
kick was given against Finnan. Somehow Stelios who jumped at Finnan was
given a free kick for an alleged obstruction. The free kick was swung in
and Reina seemed to have an easy catch but somehow he misjudged the flight
of the ball and dropped it. As he went for the loose ball Hyypia also went
to clear it and it moved a few inches to Jaidi who headed home.

The Reds had a really good period of pressure midway through the half and
as ever it was started through Steven Gerrard. On twenty three minutes he
met a shot perfectly but it hit against Gardener who simply was just in the
right place at the right time. In the next move for the Reds Hamann hit a
shot destined for the bottom corner but Jaaskelainen managed to get across
and turn the shot away for a corner kick.

The problem for the Reds was that this spell of pressure just didn't last
long enough. The game was a bit too scrappy at times to get good football
and the pitch certainly didn't aid that side of things but you know what
you get at Bolton.

The next chance of note in the first half then fell to Traore who, having
found himself in space midway in the Bolton half got the ball. Traore took
it on a couple of steps before shooting and Jaaskelainen was forced in to a
great save. Deep in to first half stoppage time the Reds had another chance
to score when Jaaskelainen came racing out to beat Pongolle to a ball but
hi touch was woeful. Kewell picked up the loose ball and lobbed it back in.
Pongolle tried to head it on but missed and by this time two men were back
on the line to clear up the danger.

The Reds were slow to start in the second half but slowly started to play
football more and that got the Reds back in to it. Three minutes in to the
half it was nearly time for the sub keeper as Reina made his way a little
close to the edge of the box handling the ball. As he slid to gather a ball
he skidded out of the area but thankfully the Red's keeper managed to spot
this and let go of the ball in time.

The Reds made a couple of subs just past the hour mark. First of all Garcia
came on for Pongolle on sixty two minutes. Three minutes later Alonso came
on for Hamann. In between the two subs Kewell went really close with a shot
after cutting inside his man. Straight after Gerrard had a shot on goal but
it went just wide as the Reds were upping the pace more and more.

The Reds got back into the game through Steven Gerrard. Gerrard was brought
down by Joey O'Brien on sixty six minutes. Referee Mark Clattenburg had no
second thoughts in awarding the stone waller. Kewell had found Gerrard with
a great pass and as Gerrard got to the area he upped a gear o get past his
man. O'Brien had slid in and knew straight away it was a penalty. Steven
Gerrard picked himself up and slotted home a penalty low to the right hand
side. It was comfortably past the Bolton keeper but his run up or walk up
at east certainly worried me.

The Reds were now well back in to the game and the fans were full of noise.
It sadly lasted just four minutes though as Bolton scored against the run
of play. This was an absolute disgrace of a goal though as the offside flag
was very notable by its absence. Kevin Davies was a mile offside but
somehow it wasn't given. Davies broke down the inside left with Carragher
trying his best to get back. Davies centred the ball for Diouf who managed
to hit the ball past Reina courtesy of a rebound. Reina will be
disappointed for this goal to I think as he didn't come out and command the
cross properly. Sometimes you just have to take everyone out and grab the ball.

The Reds were suddenly back on their heels again but had to get the ball
back down again and try and pass it around. This really wasn't helped by El
Hadji Diouf who fell over at the slightest touch or breath of fresh air
near him. What was so poor here was that Clattenburg fell for it every time.

The Reds though battled hard and were back in the game on eighty three
minutes and it was well deserved. Luis Garcia who had a stinker on Saturday
took a great shot and saw it fly into the back of the net. Garcia had come
inside off the right flak and with Gardener initially wrong footed Alonso
found him with a great pass. Garcia instantly took the ball back inside to
get past Gardener running at him the other way before lashing a great shot
in at the near post.

Cisse came on for the last six minutes as the Reds continued to look for
all three points. Cisse in fact had a great chance to score. Gerrard
floated a ball in to the area for him and Cisse guided the ball goalwards
only to see it go just past the wrong side of the post. The Reds continued
to push forward but it just wasn't going to happen in the end. Bolton
wasted what time they could as they realised they were right up against it
and got away it.

Al in a draw was probably just about fair although the Reds did create
enough chances to win the match and certainly late on showed more appetite
for the three points than one. It ended the run of consecutive wins sadly
but at least we got one point from the match and can move on to the next
game. It's FA Cup football next week so the league will have to go on the
back burner for now.

MotM : Steven Gerrard - inspired the Reds to ensure they at least came away
with a point in this encounter.

Match Stats
Bolton - Liverpool
38% Possession 62%
5 Shots On Target 6
5 Shots Off Target 8
2 Blocked Shots 2
3 Corners 5
17 Fouls 15
6 Offsides 2
2 Yellow Cards 3
0 Red Cards 0

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Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
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