Liverpool-Bolton Wanderers Preview

Posted Friday, October 29, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

LONDON (SE) - Liverpool can earn manager Roy Hodgson more breathing room with victory at North-West rivals Bolton on Sunday.

The Reds ended a run of five Premier League games without a win thanks to a 2-1 home triumph over Blackburn last weekend.

However, they still remain in the relegation zone after their worst start to a season in more than half a century, and Hodgson is well aware that defeat at the Reebok would have his critics sharpening their knives again.

His opposite number at Bolton, though, has no doubts that Hodgson is up to the job.

Trotters boss Owen Coyle said: “I find it bewildering the criticism that he has come under. This is a man we all accept was the manager of the year last year.

“He has done an unbelievable job wherever he has been across the world - Inter Milan and the job he did at Fulham last year it was second to none.”

Coyle added: “We all know that in this league it only takes two or three results to turn that (Liverpool’s poor start) on its head and to be catapulted up there.

“This is not a team that is detached. We know this is a team that, within a couple of wins, can really push themselves up the table.”

Liverpool full-back Paul Konchesky agreed. He told the Liverpool Echo: “We have had a bad time and we have had to stick together. The manager has taken the brunt of the criticism but he has stayed in good spirits to try and lift the players. Hopefully we can now go from strength to strength.”

Hodgson knows he has to steady the ship to ensure he is in position to spend the funds that new American owners New England Sports Ventures are likely to make available in the January transfer window.

He told the Liverpool Echo: “We should not be shopping in the bargain basement and quality costs.

“If we want the right quality, we have got to be prepared to pay the right price.

“The owners know that perfectly well. We have got to make certain that if we go out and spend \00A320m, we are getting a \00A320m player.

“We want to be attracting the players that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter are chasing.”

There has been speculation that rivals Manchester United would bid for Jose Reina and Fernando Torres in the January transfer window, but new Liverpool owner John Henry is adamant none of the club’s big names will be allowed to leave.

Henry told the club’s official website: “We intend to build on the strength of the current squad, not undermine it. And I can reassure our supporters that we have no intention of allowing the team to be weakened going forward.”

Bolton have lost only once this season, drawing six of their nine games in the Premier League. They are aiming to complete October unbeaten and will be looking to Johan Elmander to continue the impressive form that has seen him score five times in the league already.

All the Sweden striker’s goals, though, have come away from home and he has not netted a competitive goal at the Reebok since March.

Bolton have no fresh injury worries and Coyle confirmed that striker Ivan Klasnic is in the squad despite currently being on bail following his arrest on suspicion of rape earlier this week.

Defender Andy O’Brien has joined Championship side Leeds on a month-long loan to help him regain his fitness after a hamstring injury.

Liverpool will again be without Dirk Kuyt, who injured an ankle while on international duty with Holland. England defender Glen Johnson will undergo a late fitness test on a thigh problem.

Recent history is certainly on Liverpool’s side in this fixture. Last season they did the double over Bolton for a third successive time. They won 3-2 at the Reebok, twice coming from behind to equalise through Johnson and Torres before Steven Gerrard scored an 83rd minute winner. Bolton were forced to play the last 35 minutes of that match with ten men after midfielder Sean Davis was sent off.