Liverpool 3-1 Bolton: Sunday Mirror match report

LIVERPOOL sent out an early title warning as goals by Jordan Henderson, Martin Skrtel and Charlie Adam took the Reds to the top of the Premier League.

Kenny Dalglish has taken just three games to prove that they are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Last night they simply blew away Bolton.

Liverpool should have been out of sight before the break.

Luis Suarez was too clever for Fabrice Muamba on the ­halfway line when the home team caught Bolton on the break from a corner.

And although the Bolton midfielder hauled him down, the ball broke for ­Henderson to send Stewart Downing clear.

Downing’s pace was too hot for Paul Robinson, but his touch was poor and ­goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was able to race from his line to smother.

But the creativity of Kenny Dalglish’s team – with ­Henderson outstanding – was illustrated perfectly by the goal that brought them the lead in the 15th minute. Jose Enrique’s pass down the left flank found Suarez ­drifting wide and with Gary Cahill in close attendance.

But the livewire Uruguayan turned to lift a glorious pass into the path of Downing to crash a first-time volley from 12 yards that Jaaskelainen palmed away brilliantly.

Bolton had not been ­reprieved. Dirk Kuyt collected the loose ball and squared for Henderson to make the most of Nigel Reo-Coker’s weak challenge by guiding a glorious shot into the top corner.

It was Henderson’s first goal for the Reds since his ­£20million capture from ­Sunderland and the relief in his celebration was clear.

Bolton replied immediately when Martin Petrov met Chris Eagles’ cross from the right with a powerful volley that Pepe Reina beat away.

But Liverpool were full of invention.

Adam conjured up the kind of long-range pass that was his trademark at Blackpool last season to put Suarez clear, but this time the striker’s control did not match the intelligence of his run.

Henderson then sent in an inviting cross that Kuyt would have given Kuyt a tap-in a ­deflection off Zat Knight hadn’t taken the ball out for a corner. And when Henderson sprang Suarez clear through the middle he should have done better than lift his shot onto the roof of the net.

Owen Coyle sent on Mark Davies for Muamba on 26 minutes and the change appeared to be forced by a change of tactics rather than injury.

Four minutes later, Liverpool right-back Martin Kelly limped off to be replaced by Skrtel.

Mark Davies finally gave Bolton’s fans something to get excited about with a clever charge forward, but his shot lacked the power to trouble Reina.

But Kuyt finished another flowing Liverpool move by ­firing an angled drive just too high. Liverpool were furious when referee Lee Probert failed to punish Gretar ­Steinsson’s handball with a penalty – ­although replays proved he got it right with the offence taking place inches outside the area.

On the opening day, ­Liverpool paid for failing to make the most of their early dominance as Sunderland came back to take a point.

Not this time.

Seven minutes after the break, Skrtel steamed in to leap higher than Knight to bulge the net with an unstoppable header. And a minute later, Adam left Reo-Coker trailing as he strode forward from midfield to fire a low right-footed shot through Knight’s legs to leave Jaaskelainen ­stranded.

Referee Probert got it right again when he turned a deaf ear to Kop screams after Paul Robinson’s tackle Suarez ­legally left Suarez in a heap.

Dalglish made sure that Suarez and ­Henderson both got the standing ­ovation they deserved by ­substituting the pair 14 minutes from time.

Bolton grabbed a consolation through Ivan Klasnic, but it was never going to deny Liverpool a glorious day.

Liverpool v Bolton: Premier League Special - Picture Special