Aug 29, 2009 - 1:47 PM
0 shoutsBy NEIL RICHARDS STATS European Football Writer=
LONDON (SE) - Steven Gerrard got Liverpool's title challenge back on track with the game-winner seven minutes from time as the Reds twice hit back from a goal down to beat ten-man Bolton 3-2 at the Reebok Stadium.
The Liverpool skipper lashed in a fierce shot from just inside the box to hand the winless Trotters their third straight defeat of the season after it had earlier appeared that it was the visitors who were on course for their third reversal in four matches.
"Gerrard is a very big player, he is a key player for us," said Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, who had criticised his captain for conceding a needless penalty in last Monday's defeat against Aston Villa surely knowing he would get a positive reaction like this.
"He can be a leader for the rest of the players with his commitment and his quality."
Kevin Davies had put Bolton in front from close range on 33 minutes after the Liverpool defence had failed to clear a Matt Taylor corner, but Glen Johnson's low drive levelled it eight minutes later.
Tamir Cohen, the son of former Liverpool player Avi, restored Wanderers' advantage in the first minute of the second half, only for Sean Davis to put them under pressure when he was sent off for a second bookable offence, leaving his side to try and hang on with ten men for the remaining 36 minutes.
The visitors equalised almost immediately, Fernando Torres finishing off a delightful move by firing home and despite a valiant Bolton rearguard action it was no surprise when Gerrard grabbed the winner, the England midfielder bringing a smile back to the face of his manager.
"The players showed character to come from behind twice and it was the perfect response," (to the defeat by Villa) Benitez added.
"We were in control, we had plenty of possession, but clearly when you are playing with ten players it is always more difficult. It was important for them (Bolton), but we were already controlling the game."
Bolton came into the match still searching for their first Premier League goal, but with Johan Elmander ploughing a lonely furrow up front it was evident their five-man midfield was more intent on snuffing out the threat from the opposition.
Torres had scored in back-to-back games and looked a threat for Liverpool early on, heading over from a Lucas cross and just failing to get on the end of an excellent floated pass over the top from Greece central defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who had been handed his debut.
Reds right-back Johnson was also prominent, shooting across the face of goal after cutting in from the right, but after Torres had failed to get enough elevation on an attempted chip over Jussi Jaaskelainen, it was Bolton who grabbed the lead.
Elmander outmuscled the Liverpool defence to meet Matt Taylor's right-wing inswinging corner with a downward header and Davies tapped in from close range.
Liverpool should have been level immediately but Torres shot wastefully wide after two Bolton defenders had misjudged a cross from Johnson before the England full-back found the target himself. A corner was only half-cleared and Johnson fired a low show inside Jaaskelainen's near post with the goalkeeper seemingly unsighted.
Reina made an excellent save to tip over a wickedly curling free-kick from Taylor just before the break, but could do nothing about Cohen's fierce drive early in the second half with Liverpool's defence unable to cope with the physical play of Davies.
Davis, who had been booked in the first half for kicking the ball away, was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Lucas, though Bolton manager Gary Megson disagreed with the decision.
"I'm not sure if every club would have a player sent off in that instance," he said. "I know five or six that wouldn't, but we're not one of the five or six.
"Lucas is clever, you get hold of the ball, you slow down and wait for the hit and then you go over.
"It's clever and it's cute. We haven't got that at our football club, so we either accept it, or copy what everybody else does or hope that referees realise what is going on."
The Bolton protests had barely died down when Liverpool snatched a second equaliser. Gerrard clipped the ball into the box, Kuyt directed an excellent pass off his chest perfectly into the path of Torres and the Spain striker beat Jaaskelainen from 15 yards.
Bolton defended gamely to come within seven minutes of a first point of the season, but the pressure finally told. Torres got a head to a corner from substitute Yossi Benayoun and Gerrard blasted the winner for his second of the season.
Jaaskelainen produced excellent stops from Torres and Benayoun in the closing stages to prevent the visitors adding a fourth.
