Happy New Year for Reds
A stunning Peter Crouch overhead kick, a Steven Gerrard volley and a late goal from Dirk Kuyt gave Liverpool a 3-0 victory over Bolton at Anfield and lifted them into third place in the Barclays Premiership. England striker Crouch, the subject of recent transfer
speculation, repaid manager Rafael Benitez's faith in him by scoring the crucial opening goal after a frustrating first half and could have easily finished with a hat-trick.
The 6ft 7in forward, benefiting from Craig Bellamy's hamstring injury, made the most of the opportunity with a brilliant strike in the 61st minute.
Gerrard then made it 2-0 by converting Kuyt's cross less than two minutes later, before the Dutch striker added a third in the 83rd minute.
It lifted Benitez's side above their opponents into third and ensured the Reds ended the packed festive programme with nine points from four matches.
The pattern of the game was established early on, with Gerrard first to try his luck in the second minute, combining with Kuyt but dragging his 25-yard effort wide of Jussi Jaaskelainen's right-hand post.
Crouch then headed down Finnan's right-wing cross for Kuyt to volley from long range, but the Bolton defence closed ranks to block his effort.
The Dutch striker was only inches away from flicking on Gerrard's inswinging cross in the ninth minute as Liverpool enjoyed the majority of early possession.
Kevin Davies' foot-up lunge at Gonzalez bizarrely prompted the Chile winger into an immediate change of boots as Gerrard wasted the opportunity to test the Bolton defence with the free-kick.
Davies and Nicky Hunt then linked up down the right and when the full-back crossed, Jamie Carragher conceded a 15th-minute corner. However, Gary Speed's delivery was poor and the chance was lost.
Bolton actually had the first effort on target, but Hunt's tame looping cross-shot following Ivan Campo's long throw was comfortably held by Jose Reina.
Referee Graham Poll then ruled Kuyt had fouled Jaaskelainen after the goalkeeper failed to collect Gerrard's cross, which had deflected up off Abdoulaye Faye.
In the 20th minute Kuyt launched a quick breakaway, but after running 40 yards he was halted by Tal Ben Haim, who was booked for the foul.
Jaaskelainen was finally forced into a save in the 28th minute when Steven Finnan's 20-yard piledriver was tipped onto the crossbar and over.
For all Crouch's height advantage Liverpool were really missing the pace of Bellamy as the Bolton defence coped comfortably with every ball played in behind them.
Xabi Alonso was next to attempt to break the deadlock in the 33rd minute from just outside the area after John Arne Riise's driving left-wing run, but the ball curled agonisingly wide of the goalkeeper's right-hand post.
Liverpool's frustrations grew towards half-time and they were not helped when Poll appeared to direct a Harry Enfield Scouser-style `calm down' towards the bench after they complained about Bolton's approach.
Gonzalez had the hosts' first effort after the break, heading over Pennant's 52nd-minute cross after the former Birmingham winger had linked cleverly with Kuyt.
A blatant shove by Campo on Pennant earned the former Real Madrid man a 58th-minute booking, but it did the job in halting the winger's progress.
The breakthrough finally came just after the hour and it was a worthy opener.
Kuyt beat two defenders before playing in Pennant and his right-wing cross was dispatched into the net by a Crouch overhead kick, not dissimilar to the one he scored at Anfield against Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Less than two minutes later it was 2-0, this time Pennant linking with Kuyt for the Dutchman to cross and Gerrard to volley home from 12 yards.
Faye then earned himself a booking for disputing a foul on Crouch and was lucky to stay on the pitch after deliberately bumping into Poll and then kicking the ball away.
Crouch almost grabbed his second with 20 minutes to go when he volleyed straight at Jaaskelainen from Finnan's short cross.
The England striker then headed over Pennant's centre from six yards in the 76th minute.
Kuyt's weaving run from the halfway line then took him to the edge of the penalty area, but Jaaskelainen tipped over his shot.
From the resulting corner the goalkeeper had to throw himself to his right to turn aside Hyypia's header.
But when substitute Luis Garcia played in Kuyt, he rolled his shot across Jaaskelainen and inside the far post for the third.
'Perfect start to 2007' - Gerrard
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admitted the 3-0 victory at home to Bolton was 'the perfect start' to 2007.
A stunning Peter Crouch overhead kick, Gerrard's volley and a late goal from Dirk Kuyt gave Liverpool the win at Anfield and lifted them into third place in the Premiership.
Gerrard, who was awarded an MBE in the New Year`s Honours List, told Sky Sports 1: 'It was the perfect start: a home win, three points and a clean sheet and we played some really good football against a decent side.
'It's been a great week for me personally but personal things are put on one side when you go onto the pitch.
'It was a great team performance and there should be a special mention for Jermaine Pennant. He's been criticised this season but today he was fantastic, his crossing from the right was superb.
'My goal was really nice. I was really quiet second half but I was pleased with the goal.'
Man of the match Kuyt added: 'It's a good beginning to this year.
'We're now third in the table, and for us it's very important just to keep going.
'Just winning the home games is the most important thing. It's a tough league and a long race so we'll see.'
Reds boss Rafael Benitez echoed his skipper's sentiments.
'I think all the supporters must be really happy. We started the year really well; it's a fantastic start to 2007,' he told Sky Sports 1.
'We were waiting for a physical game and in the first half it was more difficult. In the second half we scored the goals and opened the game, it was very good.'
Asked about referee Graham Poll's performance - Benitez urged officials to monitor Bolton's tactics more closely - Benitez added: 'If it's the same for everybody, perfect.'
speculation, repaid manager Rafael Benitez's faith in him by scoring the crucial opening goal after a frustrating first half and could have easily finished with a hat-trick.The 6ft 7in forward, benefiting from Craig Bellamy's hamstring injury, made the most of the opportunity with a brilliant strike in the 61st minute.
Gerrard then made it 2-0 by converting Kuyt's cross less than two minutes later, before the Dutch striker added a third in the 83rd minute.
It lifted Benitez's side above their opponents into third and ensured the Reds ended the packed festive programme with nine points from four matches.
The pattern of the game was established early on, with Gerrard first to try his luck in the second minute, combining with Kuyt but dragging his 25-yard effort wide of Jussi Jaaskelainen's right-hand post.
Crouch then headed down Finnan's right-wing cross for Kuyt to volley from long range, but the Bolton defence closed ranks to block his effort.
The Dutch striker was only inches away from flicking on Gerrard's inswinging cross in the ninth minute as Liverpool enjoyed the majority of early possession.
Kevin Davies' foot-up lunge at Gonzalez bizarrely prompted the Chile winger into an immediate change of boots as Gerrard wasted the opportunity to test the Bolton defence with the free-kick.
Davies and Nicky Hunt then linked up down the right and when the full-back crossed, Jamie Carragher conceded a 15th-minute corner. However, Gary Speed's delivery was poor and the chance was lost.
Bolton actually had the first effort on target, but Hunt's tame looping cross-shot following Ivan Campo's long throw was comfortably held by Jose Reina.
Referee Graham Poll then ruled Kuyt had fouled Jaaskelainen after the goalkeeper failed to collect Gerrard's cross, which had deflected up off Abdoulaye Faye.
In the 20th minute Kuyt launched a quick breakaway, but after running 40 yards he was halted by Tal Ben Haim, who was booked for the foul.
Jaaskelainen was finally forced into a save in the 28th minute when Steven Finnan's 20-yard piledriver was tipped onto the crossbar and over.
For all Crouch's height advantage Liverpool were really missing the pace of Bellamy as the Bolton defence coped comfortably with every ball played in behind them.
Xabi Alonso was next to attempt to break the deadlock in the 33rd minute from just outside the area after John Arne Riise's driving left-wing run, but the ball curled agonisingly wide of the goalkeeper's right-hand post.
Liverpool's frustrations grew towards half-time and they were not helped when Poll appeared to direct a Harry Enfield Scouser-style `calm down' towards the bench after they complained about Bolton's approach.
Gonzalez had the hosts' first effort after the break, heading over Pennant's 52nd-minute cross after the former Birmingham winger had linked cleverly with Kuyt.
A blatant shove by Campo on Pennant earned the former Real Madrid man a 58th-minute booking, but it did the job in halting the winger's progress.
The breakthrough finally came just after the hour and it was a worthy opener.
Kuyt beat two defenders before playing in Pennant and his right-wing cross was dispatched into the net by a Crouch overhead kick, not dissimilar to the one he scored at Anfield against Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Less than two minutes later it was 2-0, this time Pennant linking with Kuyt for the Dutchman to cross and Gerrard to volley home from 12 yards.
Faye then earned himself a booking for disputing a foul on Crouch and was lucky to stay on the pitch after deliberately bumping into Poll and then kicking the ball away.
Crouch almost grabbed his second with 20 minutes to go when he volleyed straight at Jaaskelainen from Finnan's short cross.
The England striker then headed over Pennant's centre from six yards in the 76th minute.
Kuyt's weaving run from the halfway line then took him to the edge of the penalty area, but Jaaskelainen tipped over his shot.
From the resulting corner the goalkeeper had to throw himself to his right to turn aside Hyypia's header.
But when substitute Luis Garcia played in Kuyt, he rolled his shot across Jaaskelainen and inside the far post for the third.
'Perfect start to 2007' - Gerrard
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admitted the 3-0 victory at home to Bolton was 'the perfect start' to 2007.
A stunning Peter Crouch overhead kick, Gerrard's volley and a late goal from Dirk Kuyt gave Liverpool the win at Anfield and lifted them into third place in the Premiership.
Gerrard, who was awarded an MBE in the New Year`s Honours List, told Sky Sports 1: 'It was the perfect start: a home win, three points and a clean sheet and we played some really good football against a decent side.
'It's been a great week for me personally but personal things are put on one side when you go onto the pitch.
'It was a great team performance and there should be a special mention for Jermaine Pennant. He's been criticised this season but today he was fantastic, his crossing from the right was superb.
'My goal was really nice. I was really quiet second half but I was pleased with the goal.'
Man of the match Kuyt added: 'It's a good beginning to this year.
'We're now third in the table, and for us it's very important just to keep going.
'Just winning the home games is the most important thing. It's a tough league and a long race so we'll see.'
Reds boss Rafael Benitez echoed his skipper's sentiments.
'I think all the supporters must be really happy. We started the year really well; it's a fantastic start to 2007,' he told Sky Sports 1.
'We were waiting for a physical game and in the first half it was more difficult. In the second half we scored the goals and opened the game, it was very good.'
Asked about referee Graham Poll's performance - Benitez urged officials to monitor Bolton's tactics more closely - Benitez added: 'If it's the same for everybody, perfect.'
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