Liverpool V Bolton Wanderers Betting: Saturday, 30th January

Liverpool V Bolton Wanderers

Saturday, 30^th January – 15:00 GMT

Liverpool

League Position: 5th

Recent Form: WWDWD

Liverpool might be unbeaten now in five league games but their recent draw at Wolves provided an under fire Rafa Benitez with yet another setback as the Reds lose yet more ground on Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place. Liverpool’s season is now solely about finishing in the top four and retaining Champions League football. However, poor results have cropped up all too often and what should have been a simple task, finishing in the top four, could rapidly become a mountain to climb if the don’t start getting the right results.

The trip to Molineux on Tuesday night really ought to have been a three point banker for Liverpool, yet they came up short yet again. In fact, Wolves would have been worthy winners had they of stuck one of their decent chances away. Liverpool, on the other hand, rarely tested Marcus Hahnemann in the Wolves goal and gave their loyal travelling supporters yet another drab display. However, this one was even more concerning as it included their skipper at the heart of it, with Steven Gerrard making his return to the Liverpool fold after missing Liverpool’s last league game with Spurs. He did, however, look well short of match practice as his performance on the night was pretty dull. From a player who usually takes the game by the scruff of the neck, he was extremely poor, although we think he hasn’t been playing well all season, if truth be told.

After failing to attain the right result in midweek, which was three points, the pressure to get those three points at the weekend will be tremendous now that they return to Anfield. What should be a fortress for them and a venue where they expect the main bulk of their remaining league points to come at. Their home form, though, is very strong after winning their last three league games at Anfield, with victories over Wigan Athletic (2-1), Wolves (2-0) & Tottenham Hotspur (2-0), of which the latter was one of Liverpool’s more impressive displays this season. If they replicate the endeavour and effort shown in that victory over Spurs then Liverpool won’t have any problems dispatching Bolton, but Liverpool don’t do easy and a rough ride probably should be the norm here before Liverpool do eventually seal all three points. At least, that’s the plan.

Bolton Wanderers

League Position: 15th

Recent Form: DDLLW

Owen Coyle finally got his first league win as the Bolton gaffer as his team narrowly recorded a 1-0 victory over his former side, Burnley, at The Reebok. That was Bolton’s first win in four games and it did end a run of two successive defeats after losing back-to-games with Arsenal. So, it didn’t take Bolton too long to recover from their Arsenal woes, but will that midweek victory over Burnley build up enough momentum to actually take points away from Anfield? 

We think not as this looks a bridge too far for Owen Coyle and his bullish Bolton squad. The problem with Bolton now, under Owen Coyle, is that they will try to play pretty, attractive football as the fans have demanded such a sight for a while now, ever since Sam Allardyce left the club, and ‘on the ground’ football is all Owen Coyle knows. He made a name for himself at Burnley by playing in a manner Bolton fans have been dreaming about in years; by getting a group of players who, to be brutally honest, aren’t all that good as individuals, but he got them playing so effectively as a unit that they quickly become a decent little attacking side. However, this lethal attacking intent didn’t work for Owen Coyle away from home and Bolton could be found wanting at Anfield. One of the toughest venues to visit in the Premiership calendar.

Bolton’s last away encounter in the league was a trip to The Emirates to face an in form Arsenal. The positive to take from that game was that they had Arsenal at gun point after just 15 minutes, sprinting into a 2-0 lead. However, the huge negative was that they ended up losing the game 4-2, conceding four goals without reply. What was especially disappointing was their second half capitulation in which Arsenal played Bolton into the ground. Bolton’s willingness to attack in numbers at every given opportunity cost them come the end, and the fact that they’ve kept just one clean sheet all season, their 1-0 win over Burnley in midweek being their first, is a major concern. Plus, you have to stretch way back to 2^nd May, 2009, last season, for Bolton’s last away clean sheet in the league. A 0-0 draw at Wigan Athletic. That was their only clean sheet of that season and they could very well go the entirety of this season without one.

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 1.50 Bet365

You would like to think this will be a routine win for Liverpool but they’ve made such hard work of so many easy fixtures this season that the possibility of Bolton springing a shock is completely chance-less. However, Liverpool have managed victories in their previous three home games, league games that is, and, although it might not be pretty, we still expect Rafa & Co to be victorious this Saturday. However, their price isn’t flattering in the slightest so we wouldn’t be diving into them at a great rate of knots.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 1.50 Bet365

Draw – 4.30 Boylesports

Bolton Wanderers – 8.00 Ladbrokes

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Steven Gerrard FGS – 6.00 PaddyPower