Bolton too strong for Reds

Bolton Wanderers moved out of the Premier League drop zone with a thumping 3-1 success over bogey-side Liverpool at the Reebok.

Davies, Reo-Coker and Steinsson net in rare home success

Bolton Wanderers moved out of the Premier League drop zone with a thumping 3-1 success over bogey-side Liverpool at the Reebok Stadium. The home side made a dream start to the contest with midfielder Mark Davies firing Bolton ahead with a left-footed finish inside the opening four minutes with a shot past Jose Reina. Owen Coyle's side doubled their advantage in the 29th minute when Nigel Reo-Coker chested down Chris Eagles' through-ball before slotting home from close range. Liverpool were not about to lie down without a fight and the visitors pulled one back when Craig Bellamy raced clear of Bolton's defence before scoring past stand-in Adam Bogdan. Wanderers restored their two-goal cushion five minutes after half time when David Wheater nodded down Martin Petrov's corner with Gretar Steinsson lashing home . In the second half, Daniel Agger's long-range drive clipped the top of the crossbar, but for all Liverpool's endeavour Bolton never looked like conceding a second, a result that sees them move a point above third-from-bottom Blackburn. Prior to this match only Premier League title-chasers Manchester City and Tottenham had scored three or more against Liverpool this season. Worryingly for Dalglish, they have to face City at home on Wednesday in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final holding just a slender 1-0 lead. If they defend as poorly as this the 16-year wait for a Wembley appearance may go on even longer. Wanderers made it 10 points from their last six matches and Coyle will hope this result will prove to be a turning point for his beleaguered side.

Struggle

But after watching his players fail to break down Stoke last week - one of many struggles at Anfield - Dalglish has to find a way of lifting a team which has won just once in six league matches, collecting just six points. Liverpool's excellent record against Bolton counted for little as early as the fourth minute when the home side took the lead. Martin Skrtel stepped out to meet Eagles' pass into David Ngog but the slightest of touches from the former Reds striker moved it on to Davies who charged into the penalty area to shoot low just inside Jose Reina's left-hand post. Eagles should have made it 2-0 when he held off the challenge of Jose Enrique as he ran in from the touchline only to fire a cross-shot past the far post from a narrow angle. Bellamy, playing up front alongside Andy Carroll, was by far Liverpool's biggest threat with his pace getting him behind the Wanderers defence on a number of occasions. The Wales international had one shot blocked by David Wheater while Carroll, who began to link better with his partner as the match wore on, headed straight at Bogdan from Steven Gerrard's cross-field pass. After Maxi Rodriguez's penalty appeal for the ball hitting Zat Knight's arm was rejected Bolton all too easily carved open Liverpool's defence for a second time. Eagles was again the instigator, coming off the right touchline to chip the ball over the centre-backs for Reo-Coker to stab home. Carroll was coming into the game more and after one first-time pass sent Bellamy racing through to shoot at Bogdan his flick-on led to a goal. His header from Reina's clearance sent the Welshman racing through and this time he cleverly clipped the ball past the Bolton goalkeeper.

Saved

Bogdan then