Liverpool v. Bolton Wanderers

Liverpool sit on four points after two matches thanks to  two impressive performances on the back of Luis Suarez who had scored both against Sunderland and Arsenal as well as adding another goal against Exeter City in the Carling Cup to make it three in three. Bolton, on the other hand, are coming off a 3-2 home defeat to Manchester City and a come-from-behind Carling Cup victory against Macclesfield Town. Bolton must return to their winning ways in the Premier League as the next few games will be a tough stretch for the mighty Wanderers.

Bolton added two more men to the physio's bed in the last week as both Grétar Steinsson and Marcos Alonso have been added to the injury list with foot problems. Steinsson has a bruised foot and I know what you're saying but if his bruise was bad enough to warrant scans earlier in the week, I wouldn't want to risk it either. Alonso's injury is worse as he's broken his fifth metatarsal and could be out up to three months. 

 

This leaves a gaping hole for Bolton at the right back position and there are two players on the bench that can fill the role at the moment: David Wheater and Joe Riley (who made his debut in the senior side against Macclesfield). Wheater has played in the position before, in our very disappointing 1-0 loss to Blackburn away at the end of last season where he was run ragged by the likes of Martin Olsson. Imagine that scenario again with Luis Suarez and Stewart Downing running at him.  That being said, Wheater should get the start tomorrow as Riley is still very inexperienced but he would do well to come in as a second half substitute in order to get vital playing time at Anfield. Another possibility, but one unlikely to happen, is Nigel Reo-Coker moving to right back as it is one of the position's he's played in the past. However, don't get your hopes up.

Kevin Davies has found the back of the net for Bolton in three of the last four league matches against Liverpool including two scores for Bolton as well as an own goal. Let's hope that he pulls a bit of a Jamie Carragher and scores against the home side. The rest of the head-to-head statistics look rather bleak for Bolton including the fact that Liverpool have taken the fixture 9 (in a row) of the last 10 times the two sides met. 

Tuncay Sanli is set to make his league debut for the Whites as well but likely will not be handed the start. His impressive showing against Macclesfield town which ended with him earning a (phenomenal) goal and a brilliant assist to pick out Martin Petrov should certainly see him get a run out but expect the side to look largely the same as it did against Manchester City save for Right Back. 

Expect the Men in White to come out strong against Liverpool as both fixtures last year ended with a one goal margin.