Report by Dave Usher at Anfield

It wasn't so long ago that the idea of Djimi Traore slinging over a pinpoint cross for Igor Biscan to head in a winning goal in a game where Steve Finnan's heroic defending earned him the man of the match award would have seemed as likely as Everton occupying a Champions League place.

But this has been such a strange season that nothing should surprise us any more. It's a mark of what a great coach Benitez is that three players who most of us would have sent packing last summer are now playing a key role at the business end of the season.

With no recognised striker to call on, this game was always going to be an uphill struggle for the reds, especially given the style of play adopted by the opposition.

Bolton are ugly but effective. Their style is based around making it difficult for the other side to play, and to force as many set pieces as possible.

Rafa's pre-match assessment of Bolton was spot on, although I was a bit puzzled as to why he said what he did, as it isn't really his style. It pissed Allardyce off though, and after the game 'Big Sam' claimed it also influenced the referee.

Not sure what he's talking about really, as I thought if anything the ref allowed them to get away with quite a bit, esepcially the regular blatant obsctruction of Carson.

The youngster did well on his home debut. He had some difficult moments from set pieces, but even the most experienced of goalkeepers have trouble coping with Bolton's aerial bombardment.

The first fifteen minutes of this game was all Bolton. They weren't slicing through us with pretty football, but they forced a series of corners and free kicks around the box, and we just couldn't get out.

How they never scored from one is a mystery. Every time the ball came into the box early on it caused panic in the reds defence. Carson punched one onto his own crossbar under heavy pressure, and then Finnan made an astonishing double headed clearance off the goalline.

The first header to keep out Stelios' shot was good, but what happened after that was remarkable. The ball looped upwards, and as Bolton's players converged on it Finnan managed to win it again and head it over his own bar.

To do that from a standing jump would be impressive for a Hyypia or Pellegrino. For little Steve Finnan to do it was almost unbelievable.

Eventually we managed to stem the flow of set pices, and slowly got a foothold in the game. The problem was we had no shape at all.

Morientes had been expected to play, but given that he wasn't risked until about ten minutes from time, it's safe to assume he was nowhere near fully fit.

His absence meant Gerrard starting the game up front with Garcia. There were times when it looked like the skipper was operating as an out and out centre forward.

It didn't work, Gerrard struggled to get into the game up front, and his influence was missed in midfield. John Welsh had a decent debut, and did nothing wrong.

He played the Hamann holding role, and got better the longer the game went on. To begin with, he seemed to be trying a little too hard and often went for the same ball as a team-mate.

He settled into the game soon enough though, and was always available for a pass and kept things simple. Unfortunately, that's what Biscan was doing too, and as a result we had little drive fro the middle of the park, and nothing up front.

Garcia was as busy as always, but with Riise looking jaded and Nunez appearing to be desperately short of confidence, the result was a desperately disjointed performance.

Chances were few and far between in the first half. Gerrard brought a good stop out of Jaaskelainen (ignorant bastard who refused to acknowledge the Kop after he was given a great ovation), and then volleyed a difficult chance over the bar.

After the break Nunez forced another good save from Jaaskelainen with a well struck volley, and Finnan's brilliant run and cross was met at the back post by Riise but his shot was bundled off the line by a defender.

We needed Morientes on, but his lack of fitness was apparent when first Le Tallec, and then Smicer were introduced before him.

First to go off was Riise, probably with the Juve game in mind. The Norwegian had worked hard, but didn't seem to have any spark to his play. Welsh was next to go, as Rafa opted for Smicer and Le Tallec in attacking roles with Gerrard dropping back to try and get something going.

Le Tallec's arrival on the pitch seemed to give the team a bit of a lift. He didn't do too much, but the tempo was certainly lifted when he came on.

Bolton made changes too. Okocha replaced Hunt, which on paper should have meant they'd play more football. Didn't really work out like that though. The Nigerian's main contribution to the game was a series of long throw ins which were actually dealt with quite well by the reds' backline.

Pedersen also came on, but unlike the game at the Reebok earlier this season when he terrorised Josemi, this time he got nothing out of the ever reliable Finnan.

Okocha had Bolton's best effort when he thundered a shot goalwards from 25 yards, but Carson got down to make a good low save. Davies also went close when his header was cleared off the line once more by Finnan.

The final change for Bolton saw Hierro replaced by Campo, and as the pair shared a warm embrace on the touchline, forty thousands reds gave a collective "awwwwwwwwwww". They looked so sweet. Despite the tension we were feeling at that point, I couldn't help but laugh at that moment.

The best move of the game saw Garcia and Traore exchange backheels down the left, before Garcia played in Le Tallec. His cutback just needed a finishing touch, but Bolton managed to scramble it behind for a corner.

The let off was only temporary however, as Gerrard and Traore worked a short corner, and when the left back floated a cross to the back post, Biscan rose majestically to head home the winning goal.

After that Bolton threw everything forward and forced several set pieces, but the reds defence held firm to collect a vital win. The last two home games have been incredibly tense at the end, but the character of the players has shone through.

This was not a good performance, but it was a gritty one, and right now that's what we need. With the blues stuttering badly since the turn of the year, fourth place is there for the taking.

Our problem of course is our away form. At Anfield, we're winning most games. Away from L4 though, you never know what kind of performance to expect.

The good news is that Alonso is almost back, and Cisse may even make an improbable return before the end of the season. The jury is still out on Cisse in terms of his performances before his injury, but for him to back in training less than six months after that horrific injury, he deserves immense credit.

Seeing him back in the side before the end of the season would be a massive psychological boost to everyone.

As for this game, it was the defenders who took the honours. Carragher was as impressive as he is every week, but it was the full backs who stood out for me.

Finnan's goalline heroics can't be overstated. Had we lost this game it would have been a huge body blow. Aside from those clearances though, his all round game was excellent, as was Traore's.

Defensively Traore is rock solid, and seems to have cut out the errors which have plagued his career. He's contributing to our attacking play as well though, and with him and Warnock battling for the left back spot we look to be well off in that position.

If only Rafa had the same kind of selection headaches in attacking areas. Milan will be back for Juve, and will have a point to prove after what happened in the derby.

They're superb defensively, but if Baros is on his game, and with a capacity ground in full voice it could be another memorable night on tuesday.

Liverpool: Carson, Finnan, Carragher, Pellegrino, Traore; Nunez (Morientes), Biscan, Welsh (Smicer), Riise (Le Tallec); Gerrard, Garcia:

Agree or disagree? Email me at dave@liverpoolway.co.uk

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