| Bolton | 3-1 | Liverpool |
| (2-1) | ||
| M Davies 4 | Bellamy 37 | |
| Reo-Coker 29 | ||
| Steinsson 50 | ||
Bolton Wanderers climbed out of the bottom three of the Barclays Premier League 2011/12 table on the evening of Saturday 21st January 2012, after picking up a good 3-1 home win over Liverpool at the Reebok Stadium.
Wanderers went 2-0 clear in the opening half hour, courtesy of goals from Mark Davies (4) and Nigel Reo-Coker (29), but Liverpool came back with a goal from Craig Bellamy (37) just before half time to give the visiting Reds hope of a turnaround.
This hope was dampened five minutes after the break, however, when Gretar Steinsson (50) volleyed home to restore the hosts’ two goal advantage, which, this time, would hold until the final whistle.
The 3-1 result was Bolton’s first Premier League victory – home or away – over Liverpool since 2006, and could not have come at a better time for the hosts.
This was a reasonably even match, though Bolton edged it in terms of possession, shots, and, the most important metric, goals, showing that they were well worth their win today.
Liverpool could have moved up to 5th place, with a win, following Newcastle’s defeat at the hands of Fulham, and with Arsenal not playing until Sunday’s home match with Manchester United, but must, instead, be content to remain in 7th. Bolton, on the other hand, will be delighted to be out of the bottom three relegation places, as they move up to 17th, one point ahead of Blackburn and Wolves who occupy the next two positions in the table, with Wigan, now in danger of being cast adrift, a further three points behind.