Reds lift title bid with Bolton win

Liverpool survived a test of character at Bolton to maintain their challenge at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 victory.

The disappointment of the Carling Cup defeat at Tottenham was swept away by what eventually turned out to be a convincing victory.

Liverpool have never enjoyed Bolton's physical approach but this time they stuck to their gameplan and won with fine goals from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard.

Kuyt saw an effort crash against the crossbar after 24 minutes before he went one better five minutes later, rising to send a looping header from Fabio Aurelio`s cross into the top corner.

Robbie Keane then managed to miss an open goal from two yards before Daniel Agger flashed a 25-yard effort just wide.

Bolton had an effort from Gary Cahill disallowed seconds before the break when he headed in a corner, with referee Rob Styles insisting Jose Reina had been fouled seconds earlier.

Styles was booed off by the home fans at the break and almost from the restart Bolton were awarded a string of free-kicks which allowed them to mount the sort of intense aerial pressure they excel at.

Ricardo Gardner came on for Fabrice Muamba at the break and when he broke clear on the left after 52 minutes he almost equalised as Reina's rush from his line forced a shot into the side-netting.

Liverpool then brought on Fernando Torres for Keane and from a right-wing cross from the Spanish striker, Gerrard almost got the second goal from a yard out.

Torres created a superb second goal for Liverpool after 73 minutes, clipping in a cross with the outside of his foot for Gerrard to send past Jussi Jaaskelainen with a diving header. And Torres could have scored again after 88 minutes but he struck the post.