• Big Sam accuses Gerrard of stamping
The controversial striker heads off on Friday to prepare for the African Nations Cup with Senegal.
But Diouf's departure has probably come too late for Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who was looking for his side to equal a club record set in 1982.
Instead Diouf capped a feisty display by scoring only his third league goal of the campaign to put Bolton in sight of another famous victory, until Luis Garcia stepped off the bench to rescue a point for Liverpool late in the game.
Bolton have now gone 13 matches at home undefeated and again showed what difficult opponents they are on their own patch.
Spanish shot-stopper Jose Reina handed them the lead in the ninth minute with a serious lapse in concentration.
He failed to deal with a inswinging free kick from Stelios Giannakopoulos and flapped at the ball. Sami Hyypia tried to rescue the situation but it fell to Radhi Jaidi, who headed home from close range.
Liverpool were clearly stunned after showing such glorious form at home and away.
They hit back and the free-scoring Peter Crouch got on the end of a free-kick by Steven Gerrard in the 15th minute only to head over the top.
Gerrard then strode forward in the 23rd minute but saw his effort blocked by Bolton defender Ricardo Gardner.
Bolton captain Kevin Nolan, a self-confessed Liverpool fan, was left with stud marks on his chest after scrapping for the ball with Gerrard.
Nolan was angry at the challenge but there seemed to be little malice from the Liverpool skipper.
Bolton continued to look threatening every time they broke forward. Giannakopoulos drove in a cross after 34 minutes that was collected by Jaidi, who had raced forward. He managed to force a shot but it was superbly blocked by Steve Finnan in the six yard area.
Hyypia was then penalised for tripping Diouf two minutes later and the air was thick with anticipation as Giannakopoulos lined up the free-kick from the edge of the area.
He got a good angle on his effort but Reina was able to make the save under the posts.
Nolan then had claims for a penalty waved away after he had his legs taken from under him by Jamie Carragher as he tried to weave his into the area.
Djimi Traore tried to pull Liverpool level a minute before the break and cracked in a powerful shot, which Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to turn over the top.
Liverpool looked a bit out of sorts but not Gerrard. He skipped away from Diouf three minutes later and drove in a low cross from the byline.
However Jaidi, who is also due to play in the African Nations Cup for Tunisia, was well positioned and made the clearance.
Bolton were playing with no lack of confidence as they tried to secure another famous victory at a ground where Arsenal came to grief recently.
Liverpool launched a swift counter-attack a minute later and Harry Kewell whipped in a shot that went narrowly over the bar.
Then the influential Gerrard showed good vision only to see his effort go inches wide of the post.
Gerrard grabbed the equaliser in the 66th minute when he scored from the penalty spot after he had been tripped by Joey O'Brien.
In front of the travelling Liverpool fans he sent his effort beyond Jaaskelainen and into the corner.
But Bolton regained the lead in the 71st minute thanks to Anfield old boy Diouf.
Nolan started the move playing the ball over the top to Davies, who clipped it into the area for Diouf to bundle it home.
Diouf then made space in the 79th minute but found the side-netting when Giannakopoulos was screaming for the ball at the back post.
Liverpool drew level in the 82nd minute after their substitutes linked up. Luis Garcia took a ball from Xabi Alonso on his chest then rifled a superb shot into the net.
Big Sam accuses Gerrard of stamping
England midfielder Steven Gerrard has been accused of stamping on an opponent
by furious Bolton manager Sam Allardyce.
Allardyce thought the Liverpool captain should have been sent off for a
challenge on Kevin Nolan during the 2-2 draw at the Reebok Stadium.
The Bolton boss also felt Momo Sissoko should have been red-carded as well on
the stroke of half-time when he brought down El-Hadji Diouf.
Nolan was left with stud marks on his chest following the incident in the 30th
minute of a pulsating game.
Allardyce, critical of referee Mark Clattenburg, said: 'There are clear and
serious events which Liverpool have been guilty off that haven't been dealt
with.
'Gerrard stamped on Nolan, and Sissoko stamped on Diouf. They are plain and
clear to me.
'Both should have been sent off. It is not anything other than intentional
from my point of view.
'That's sad, because the outcome would probably have been three points for us
rather than a draw.
'We went in front twice and maybe would not have lost the game. I am pleased
with the overall performance but not pleased with result after the decisions
that were made by the referee.'
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez responded: 'If we start talking about every
situation I can show you a list of things that happened.'
Spanish shot-stopper Jose Reina handed Bolton the lead in the ninth minute
with a serious lapse in concentration.
He failed to deal with an inswinging free-kick from Stelios Giannakopoulos and
flapped at the ball.
Sami Hyypia tried to rescue the situation. But the ball fell to Radhi Jaidi,
who headed home from close range.
Gerrard grabbed the equaliser in the 66th minute when he scored from the
penalty spot after he had been tripped by Joey O'Brien.
In front of the travelling Liverpool fans, he sent his effort beyond Jussi
Jaaskelainen and into the corner.
Bolton regained the lead in the 71st minute thanks to Anfield old boy Diouf.
Nolan started the move, playing the ball over the top to Kevin Davies who
clipped it into the area for Diouf to bundle it home.
Liverpool drew level in the 82nd minute after their substitutes linked up.
Luis Garcia took a ball from Xabi Alonso on his chest; then rifled a superb shot
into the net.
Benitez accused Bolton of negativity after seeing his team's 10-match winning
sequence in the league come to an end.
He also believed his team should have been given more protection.
'You see players diving all the time,' said Benitez.
'You cannot play the type of football you want.
'We created a lot of chances. We tried to play long, short and wide.
'It was difficult because a team like Bolton like to stop the game.
'I am very disappointed. This kind of game is very difficult.
'It depends on what people [the officials] allow you.
'Peter Crouch tried to jump but he couldn't. There were a lot of free-kicks
against us. Why?
'But we showed strong character in the second half when we were playing well
but losing.'
Liverpool are now 17 points behind leaders Chelsea, but Benitez added: 'I am
only thinking about playing Luton in the FA Cup.
'We need to keep going and not worry about what other teams are doing.'
Bolton Wanderers 2 - 2 Liverpool
