Rafa Benitez recalls Jamie Carragher after his suspension last week against Middlesbrough but he’s going to play right-back not his favourite position but as a professional he knows he’s got to accept whatever role he gets from his manager. Martin Skrtel gets a recall too and will play in the centre of defence alongside Sami Hyypia.
Xabi Alonso’s back in midfield which is the third of the three changes Rafa has made today. He’ll play alongside Javier Mascherano with Gerrard expected to play the much more of a free role he’s had recently.
Liverpool desperately need all three points – not an easy task given Liverpool’s difficulties this season and the fact that Bolton’s ground is far from Rafa’s favourite hunting ground. A win today would give them the chance to make fourth place their own in midweek if they could win their game-in-hand against West Ham. Two games in hand going into the game, Liverpool are sixth.
Bolton: 22 Jaaskelainen, 15 Steinsson, 31 O’Brien, 33 Cahill, 11 Gardner, 24 O’Brien, 8 Campo, 4 Nolan, 21 Diouf, 14 Davies, 32 Taylor
Subs: 26 Al Habsi, 5 Meite, 7 Giannakopoulos, 25 Cohen, 47 Rasiak
Liverpool: 25 Reina, 23 Carragher, 4 Hyypia, 37 Skrtel, 12 Aurelio, 14 Alonso, 20 Mascherano, 8 Gerrard, 19 Babel, 18 Kuyt, 9 Torres
Subs: 40 Martin, 6 Riise, 11 Benayoun, 15 Crouch, 17 Arbeloa
Referee: Phil Dowd
Good victory. Much needed and well deserved, after we weathered their early set-pieces! Playing 3 big men – or centre-halfs was meant to deal with Bolton’s typical approach.
Rafa’s gone to his preferred system of two holding midfield players which allows Gerrard to play an excellent but undiscplined role and eventually allow us to have two genuine wingers to take advantage of their protection.
Wasn’t Babel a real threat today. He’s got so much potential just need to develop him and find his best position (alongside or near Torres, I hope). Credit to Kuyt too – because although he’s taken alot of stick, and has not lived up to his goalscoring reputation – the guy works like no one else
Injuries allowing, we just MIGHT be starting to hit some form and more importantly goals……fingers-crossed.