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In a season filled with disappointment, Liverpool can take heart from one achievement. Rarely have a side so lacking in rhythm, nous and conviction threatened to achieve their eventual ambition. It is now five wins in six matches for Rafael Benítez’s team and this latest was arguably the ugliest of the lot. No matter, though, while that much-desired fourth place remains in sight.

The majority of those at Anfield desperately wanted to see their side swagger through games again and might have thought this would be the day. Bolton have not won at this ground in 56 years and, despite two consecutive wins under their new manager Owen Coyle, cannot be considered a major threat. But, yet again, a visiting side made life uncomfortable for Liverpool.

Ultimately they did triumph thanks to a close-range first-half strike from Dirk Kuyt following Alberto Aquilani’s nod down and then, 20 minutes from time, an own goal from Kevin Davies. The Bolton forward was unlucky to see Emiliano Insúa’s speculative drive squirm off his thigh and beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen in the visitors’ goal.

That aside, Liverpool rarely threatened. Steven Gerrard was shifted to the right wing in a bid to free him from the shackles of his expected man-marker, in this case Mark Davies, but the Liverpool captain, despite the increased room, could not influence proceedings in his usual manner.

It was, though, his close-range shot after 53 minutes from which David Ngog, brought into the side to play as a lone striker, missed an absolute sitter. With the goal open following Jaaskelainen’s low save of Gerrard’s strike, the Frenchman somehow managed to skew a drive from fewer than four yards out on to the bar.

It seemed then that Liverpool would once again crumble, but Kevin Davies’s bad luck soon afterwards eventually secured the win and kept the hosts within a point of Tottenham in fourth.

Time will tell how long Liverpool will continue to win ugly, but what is certain is that should Benítez, as he has hinted, join Juventus in the summer, the Turin club will hope he does not bring such dourness with him.

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