Liverpool vs Bolton preview - Cole set for fitness test

Posted Saturday, January 01, 2011 by PA

Midfielder Joe Cole will have a fitness test on an ankle injury ahead of the Barclays Premier League visit of Bolton.

The England international aggravated the problem in training on Thursday but even if he is passed fit he may be restricted to a place on the bench again.

Central defender Daniel Agger and left-back Fabio Aurelio are pushing for recalls to the starting line-up having both been sidelined for long periods with injuries.

Roy Hodgson insists he will never quit as manager as he remains convinced he is the man to lead the club back to former glories.

The 63-year-old heard the Anfield crowd turn on him after Wednesday's defeat to Wolves but despite speculation increasing about his future he stressed he would never walk away.

"It has taken me a long while to get to this elevated position coaching one of the best clubs in Europe," said the former Fulham manager.

"I was very pleased to get the job - I left a very good job to take it - so the last thing in my mind is walking away from a club like this or walking away from football.

"I want to be here, I want to change things, I want to turn it around and I want to help the club and the new owners get the success they want.

"There is no security as a Premier League manager and when you take any job you don't take it for security, you take it because you believe you can do it and do it well."

Bolton boss Owen Coyle expects to take a squad of just 15 to Anfield.

Defender Paul Robinson is suspended following his yellow card against Chelsea last time out while United States midfielder Stuart Holden is expected to miss out due to an injury sustained at Stamford Bridge.

Lee Chung-yong remains on international duty with South Korea while Tamir Cohen is not expected to return following the death of his father earlier this week.

Gretar Steinsson is still sidelined by a knee injury while Joey O'Brien, Sean Davis, Ricardo Gardner and Jlloyd Samuel are all absent too.

Coyle insists Bolton's wretched league record at Liverpool will count for nothing as his side aim to make it a miserable start to 2011 for the Reds.

Wanderers last claimed a point at Anfield on New Year's Day 2002, and since then have lost all eight league games they have played there, conceding 19 and scoring just once.

That last league goal came just over seven years ago in a 3-1 defeat but Coyle is remaining positive.

He said: "Our past record is not something that concerns me. What's happened before has no effect on the game. It will be decided by two teams on the pitch, not in the annals of history. We believe that if we get to our best we're capable of a positive result.

"We're going to a magnificent football club that have top-class players. They will be disappointed by some of the results they have had but that takes nothing away from how dangerous they can be as opponents.

"We'll go there to be positive and play on the front foot, very respectful of the team and the support but knowing that it's a game that if we play at our maximum we can get a positive result."