Liverpool-Bolton Wanderers Preview

Aug 27, 2009 - 2:41 PM NEIL RICHARDS STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has urged his senior players to raise their game ahead of Saturday's trip to Bolton with the club facing its biggest crisis on the pitch since the Spaniard took over as manager at Anfield five years ago.

Benitez was incandescent with rage on the sidelines Monday as he saw his misfiring side turn in a woeful performance against Aston Villa to surrender their 31-match unbeaten home record in the English Premier League.

The 3-1 defeat was their second setback in the opening three games of the season for Liverpool, who lost only two games the entire 2008-09 campaign. The Reds are already six points adrift of the leaders and know three points at the Reebok Stadium is a necessity.

"Our target is to win against Bolton in the next game and that's it," Benitez told the official Liverpool website. "We're not thinking about anything else.

"With this squad we won a lot of games last year and we have to do the same this year. When you are losing, the only way to change things is to win - that's the only way."

Although most of his players have been underperforming, the former Valencia manager has called on his big names to lead the team out of their slump. Spain striker Fernando Torres has scored in successive games since being criticised by his manager and Benitez launched a broadside at Steven Gerrard after the Liverpool captain had conceded a needless penalty with a rash challenge against Villa soon after his side had got back into the match.

"You can talk about some names but clearly the team as a team has to improve," Benitez added. "The senior players have more experience and they have to take responsibility and go forward."

Bolton have made a poor start to the season themselves, with defeat in their opening two games against Sunderland and Hull. They did manage a morale-boosting victory in midweek, however, winning 1-0 at against third division Tranmere in the League Cup, with Mark Davies getting his first goal for the club.

Manager Gary Megson knows his side are in for a tougher examination on Saturday and could face a similar backlash as Wigan last weekend when champions Manchester United went to the DW Stadium hot on the heels of a defeat at Burnley and handed the Latics a 5-0 hiding.

"I've seen Rafa's comments that they have to go to Bolton and win so we're up against it," said Megson. "Everyone will have them down as favourites - and quite rightly so when they have spent that amount of money and got those players - so they have to push on and get a result against us.

"We are in an entirely opposite position to the one we were in at Tranmere, we have got to go and give it our best shot against them."

Megson had a frank talk with Johan Elmander at half-time in that match, telling the striker that he expects more from the club's 10 million pounds record signing.

The Swede has not scored in 21 matches, with his last goal coming against Aston Villa on December 13.

"At half-time there were a few strong words and he has to step up to the plate," Megson said. "He has to be strong enough mentally and physically to get through this run that he is in."

Martin Skrtel played against Villa despite having a fractured jaw and is expected to continue in central defence for Liverpool with Daniel Agger having had back surgery this week that will sideline him for several weeks. New Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos is not match fit but may earn a place on the bench.

Bolton full back Gretar Steinsson, is pushing for a recall having recovered from the virus that forced him to miss the start of the season. The Iceland international has been on the bench for the Trotters' last two matches.