BOLTON slipped to defeat against title hopefuls Liverpool at the Reebok where Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard were on target.

The visitors dominated the first half and took the lead when Dutchman Kuyt headed home a fine passing move.

Just before half time Gary Cahill had a goal ruled out by referee Rob Styles when Kevin Nolan was deemed to have blocked Pepe Reina, but the incident seemed to spark Bolton.

The Trotters came out strongly after the break and substitute Ricardo Gardner did well to round Reina, only to slip at the crucial moment and send his effort high and wide.

A defensive lapse from Andy O'Brien then allowed Fernando Torres to set up Gerrard to head in the second and seal the win for Liverpool.

Megson was nonplussed by the disallowed goal and said: “We saw the TV pictures within a minute of it being disallowed and again at half-time. But our thoughts are that we did not see a huge amount wrong.

“If anyone is going to find an infringement - although it would have been harsh - it is that we should have had a penalty when Reina pushed Nolan in the back.

Decision

“There is nothing else that happens. Kevin does not do anything but stand his ground and there’s nothing wrong with that. Also there was nothing wrong with the act of scoring from Gary Cahill.

“I wasn’t surprised to see Rob Styles refereeing, it never occurred to me. He gave a ridiculous decision against us at Old Trafford, that was a mistake.

“We spoke on the phone on the Monday and we didn’t make a lot of it, regardless of the Respect campaign.

“Now there has been another one. We seem to be on the wrong end of him making mistakes.”

Bolton recalled captain Nolan following suspension, with Gardner dropping to the bench.

The visitors found out quickly that they would have to match Bolton’s industry and willpower. Tackles by Gavin McCann and Fabrice Muamba on Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano showed that.

But Liverpool soon had Bolton pinned back, with only Kevin Davies up front and Albert Riera twice wasted excellent openings on the right with poor delivery early on.

Patient

Liverpool’s patient build-up was starting to stretch Bolton. Mascherano and Gerrard both saw long shots go close before Kuyt saw an effort crash against the bar after 24 minutes from a Gerrard pass.

The Reds forged ahead when Aurelio crossed from the left after 29 minutes and Kuyt rose to send a looping header into the top corner for the lead.

Bolton had an effort from Cahill disallowed seconds before the break when he headed in a corner, with referee Rob Styles insisting that 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.

Gardner came on for 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. Agger, hurling himself towards the post, collided with the woodwork.

But after 73 minutes substitute Torres created a superb second goal for Liverpool, clipping in a cross with the outside of his foot for Gerrard to send past Jaaskelainen with a diving header.

It could have been three for Liverpool in the closing stages, the Bolton goalkeeper saving superbly from Torres and then Xabi Alonso.

Torres could also have scored after 88 minutes but he struck the post from Lucas’ lay-off.

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