Late show at Bolton can spark resurgence

Never mind the performance, all that matters are three points – Liverpool might not have pleased the purists at Bolton on Sunday but that does not matter one little bit, writes John Aldridge.

Nothing beats the thrill of a goal late in the game but, that apart, there are so many reasons why it was such a massive result for the Reds at The Reebok Stadium.

First you have to look at the complexion of the table. Okay, being in twelfth spot is no reason to start wildly celebrating but after spending the best part of a month in the bottom three, it makes much better reading.

That, in turn, will help improve the mood around Melwood - I've no doubt the training ground will have come alive again and all the players will be breathing that much easier today.

They will be buoyant again and, rather than fretting about next weekend's tussle with Chelsea, Roy Hodgson's men can head into the clash knowing they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Chelsea are the best team around at the moment, probably by quite some distance, but they will be that bit more wary now of coming to Anfield after Liverpool's last two wins, as everyone in the ground will be up for the task of toppling our old foes.

We have had some memorable duels with Chelsea in recent years but the one at the end of last season at Anfield - when they strolled to a 2-0 win en route to the title - was one of the most dispiriting displays I have seen a Liverpool team produce.

In some respects, then, we have a point to prove and it is imperative that we remind Chelsea from the first whistle that they will be in a game and I don't see any reason why we can't get a good result.

Of course, everything will have to be spot on - the tactics will need to be perfect, the defending will have to be resolute and chances will have taken ruthlessly if and when they happen to come along.

But if we can dig in and grind out another positive result, that would be brilliant because the aim has got to be to put together a sequence of undefeated matches.

You only have to look at the table to see how much ground a team can make up if they happen to click into gear and every good run needs a starting point.

Many will look to the victory over Blackburn as being decisive but, if Liverpool do start to show the levels of form which they are capable, beating Bolton, in my view, will be much more symbolic.

You could see at the final whistle how much it meant to the players and it was great to see them celebrating as one with supporters - it has been too long since we have seen such an ovation.

Admittedly, it would be wrong to think that everything is fine again as everyone knows there is a lot of work to be done but you get the sense everyone is pulling together.

The owners are taking an interest, the manager and players are working overtime and the fans are ready to play their part.

Winning, simply, changes everything and Liverpool need to find the habit.

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