Liverpool 3 Bolton 1:

By Joe Bernstein
Last updated at 11:42 PM on 27th August 2011
Jordan Henderson eased the pressure that accompanied his £16million price tag with his first goal for table-topping Liverpool.
And the whirlwind skills of new Kop idol Luis Suarez earned him an earsplitting ovation and the man-of-the-match champagne.

Proper Charlie: Liverpool's Adam celebrates his goal

But Kenny Dalglish, manager of Liverpool's last title team in 1990, knows the significance of the win was Henderson emerging from the shadows to show he can be Liverpool's leader when Steven Gerrard eventually calls it a day.
Ever since the 20-year-old arrived from Sunderland in the summer, the one-cap England international has been used as a whipping boy for those who feel transfer fees have spiralled out of control.

Challenge: Reo-Coker slides in on Luis Suarez

So there was a definite sense of relief when he collected a pass from Dirk Kuyt, brushed past Nigel Reo- Coker and bent a left-foot finish into the top corner.
It set Liverpool on the way to a victory that sees them top of the Premier League for the first time in 840 days. Having missed a host of chances in the first half, goals from Martin Skrtel and Charlie Adam at the start of the second gave the final scoreline a proper reflection. Bolton scarcely deserved their injury-time consolation from Ivan Klasnic.

Midfield battle: Liverpool's Charlie Adam takes on Bolton's Nigel Reo-Coker

Dalglish quipped about being top: 'It's early doors, but better than being bottom.'
But he was pleased the goals were shared around even though Suarez, who gave Gary Cahill a torrid time, did not score.
'The goals were an important statement for Jordan and Charlie to make. It will give them encouragement and confidence,' he said. 'And they will gain even more satisfaction that the team won.'

Opening up: Jordan Henderson scores the first for Liverpool

Liverpool fans, who felt bereft when Fernando Torres left in January, have not had to wait long for a new hero. It was meant to be Andy Carroll, but while he finds his feet, Suarez has hit the ground running - literally at times when he goes over looking for penalties.
Suarez inevitably had a part to play in Liverpool's opening goal. An impudent cross with the outside of his right boot was met with a crashing volley by Downing. Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen parried but the rebound fell to Kuyt, who set up Henderson to score.
Suarez then led the Bolton back line a merry dance, his talent occasionally overshadowed by histrionics when he did not get a decision he wanted from referee Lee Probert.

Bullet header: Martin Skrtel doubles Liverpool's lead

The only thing missing for Liverpool was a second goal. Downing took a poor first touch when played in by Suarez and allowed Paul Robinson to make a saving tackle.
Suarez also missed a one-on-one, his chip over Jaaskelainen ending up on the roof of the net. Poor Bolton were so over-run, Coyle made a tactical change after 26 minutes, with former England Under-21 international Fabrice Muamba hauled off for Mark Davies. It made little difference.
'We had to be at our best today and the galling thing is we weren't,' said Coyle. 'We got into half-time only 1-0 down so we needed to start the second half well. The opposite happened, we shot ourselves in the foot.'

3-0: Adam lets fly to score for Liverpool

MATCH FACTS

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly (Skrtel 30), Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique, Adam, Lucas, Kuyt, Henderson (Maxi 76), Downing, Suarez (Carroll 76).

Subs not used: Doni, Spearing, Shelvey, Robinson.
Scorers: Henderson, Skrtel, Adam.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Eagles (Sanli 56), Reo-Coker, Muamba (Mark Davies 26), Petrov, Kevin Davies (Pratley 71), Klasnic.

Subs not used: Bogdan, Blake, Wheater, Riley.

Yellow cards: Steinsson, Klasnic.
Scorers: Klasnic
Referee: Lee Probert.

Liverpool added their second in simple fashion. An outswinging corner by Adam was met with a thumping header by Skrtel, substitute for the injured Martin Kelly. A minute later, it was 3-0. Kuyt laid a pass square to Adam and the Scot drilled a low finish into Jaaskelainen's bottom right-hand corner.
Watching on were Gerrard, who cannot wait to get back from a groin injury, and their next signing, £7m Uruguay Under-20 defender Sebastian Coates.
The rest of the game saw a comical sideshow starring Suarez and the match officials. He went all buggle- eyed when Probert turned down his appeal for a backpass to goalkeeper Jaaskelainen. Dalglish wisely took the Uruguayan off minutes later to stop him getting into trouble, and the Kop nearly took the roof off to acclaim their new hero.
Less funny from Liverpool was Klasnic's consolation in injury-time to deny them a clean sheet. It does not deny them top spot, though. 'We passed and moved and people were entertained,' said Dalglish. It could be the Eighties all over again.