Liverpool 2 - 0 Bolton Wanderers

Reds keep pace

Updated: January 30, 2010, 8:53 AM BST

Liverpool kept up the pressure in the race for fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Bolton at Anfield.

• Benitez: Babel is staying put

Dirk Kuyt's 49th strike for the club and Kevin Davies' own goal either side of half-time eventually proved enough in a performance that was lacking a touch of class if not endeavour.

Rafael Benitez's side are now unbeaten in six league games, in which they have conceded just once, and remain on course to deliver the manager's "guarantee'' of Champions League football next season.

It was also the first time this campaign they have shut out opponents on three successive occasions, which contributed to a fourth-successive home victory.

Much of the pre-match focus had been on Juventus' interest in making Benitez their next full-time coach. His response to that speculation was to hint that the club's owners needed to match his ambitions in terms of finances for squad-building.

And with captain Steven Gerrard shackled for long periods by the man-marking job of Fabrice Muamba the side needed inspiration from somewhere but struggled to find a cutting edge without star striker Fernando Torres, who is still several weeks away from fitness.

That alone will have at least given one of those owners, the watching Tom Hicks, food for thought. It will have also given Benitez more ammunition in his bid to squeeze every last cent out of the Americans who have yet to fully back their manager with the finances he needs to compete with Manchester United, Chelsea and even Arsenal - never mind the likes of multi-billionaires Manchester City.

When Gerrard did see the ball his back-heel from Jamie Carragher's pass released David Ngog in the area but his cross-shot from the byline looped up off Zat Knight and into the arms of Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Wanderers were managing to crowd out Liverpool's tight passing game in and around the penalty area but when they did break free Emiliano Insua flashed a cross through the six-yard box with Kuyt just unable to reach.

The hosts were indebted to Sotirios Kyrgiakos for clearing Lee Chung-Yong's shot off the line after the South Korean's diagonal run from the right took him past both centre-backs and goalkeeper Jose Reina, making his 100th consecutive Premier League appearance.

Liverpool's pressure eventually paid off in the 37th minute with a move started by Albert Riera's inch-perfect crossfield pass to Insua on the left wing. The Argentinian defender crossed to the far post where Alberto Aquilani jumped highest to head back into the six-yard area, and Kuyt stabbed home through Gary Cahill's legs.

Bolton thought they had won a penalty seconds before half-time when Lee tumbled in the penalty area under Aquilani's challenge but referee Steve Bennett booked the South Korean for diving.

Eight minutes into the second half Ngog should have given Liverpool some breathing space but fluffed his big chance. Jaaskelainen saved Gerrard's first-time shot from Riera's cross but the young French striker bundled the rebound into the floor six yards out and it bounced off the outside of the post and went wide.

Gerrard tested Jaaskelainen with a driven 25-yard shot which the goalkeeper parried low to his right before the replacement of Aquilani with Lucas led to the second goal. The Brazilian midfielder headed Riera's deep cross back for Ngog to lay the ball off to Insua who drove in a shot which was heading wide until it deflected off Davies to wrong-foot Jaaskelainen.

Kuyt's late dribble left Knight on the floor and his cross had to be turned over the crossbar by Gretar Steinsson as the pressure continued on Bolton until the final whistle.

Benitez: Babel is staying put

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez had mixed feelings about his team's performance in the 2-0 victory over Bolton at Anfield but saw plenty of positives.

"I am pleased with the result and the second half but not too happy with the first half - but at the end of the day we needed to win and we won,'' said Benitez. "We are unbeaten in six games and have another clean sheet so that is good.

"In the first half they had two chances and we were a little bit lucky but in the second half it was totally different and we could have scored more goals. I think we are improving. Clearly you can see the team is working hard.''

In the week when Benitez was strongly linked with Juventus, Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks was in the directors' box to watch, and after the match a group of a hundred or so fans staged a demonstration outside the ground. Benitez was asked if he had a meeting scheduled with the American. "I was on the pitch concentrating. I knew he could come so if he is around I will see him, no problem,'' said the Spaniard.

Benitez also confirmed forward Ryan Babel, subject of at least one bid from Birmingham, would be staying at the club. "It is not easy to find better players than you have at this moment but we are watching players and trying to find someone who can be good for the team,'' said Benitez regarding his continuing search to bring in one more signing before the window closes.

"Last year we knew Tottenham were interested so we had to play a game. This year we are not playing any games. He will stay.''

Bolton boss Owen Coyle believed his side should have done better with the early chances they had. "I felt in the first half in particular we had some very good opportunities to get in front and we never took them,'' he said.

"I felt very comfortable in the game at 0-0 but with some of the quality players Liverpool have they can hit you at any given moment. Cohen on another day might have resulted in a penalty and Chung-Yong had a terrific run (when his shot was cleared off the line).

"And the booking on Chung-Yong ... I don't think it was a penalty but there was minimal contact but sometimes just because things aren't penalties it doesn't mean someone dived. I'm disappointed with the first goal we conceded because it should have been cleared.

"The second goal was a foul as Lucas (Leiva) has dragged Johan Elmander at the back post for the header and wherever the shot was going it wasn't going in. Rafa will be delighted he's had the breaks today.''