BISCAN TAKES REDS ONE POINT BEHIND BLUES
Paul Eaton 02 April 2005

Liverpool are just one point behind Everton in the race for fourth following a late Igor Biscan header against Bolton at Anfield.
The Croatian struck just five minutes from time from Djimi Traore's deep cross to send Anfield into ecstacy.

It had looked for so long as though the breakthrough was never going to come as Liverpool struggled to break down a stubborn Bolton back line but Biscan, so often criticised during his Reds' career, was in the right place at the right time at the back post to give the Reds a vital win in the race for Champions League football next season.

The result means Liverpool now lie just one point behind Everton ahead of the Blues' visit to the Midlands on Sunday to face West Bromwich Albion.

Liverpool struggled to cope with Bolton's direct style of play in the early stages and almost conceded an opening goal after just five minutes when Steve Finnan somehow headed Stelios' goalbound shot off his own line.

It was the visitors' making all the running early on as the Reds tried to become accustomed to their new team set-up, which saw John Welsh and Igor Biscan in the centre of midfield and Steven Gerrard playing just behind Luis Garcia in attack.

It was Gerrard who went closest to scoring for the home side in the first half when his low drive from a 25 yard free kick was well kept out by Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal.

Antonio Nunez came close to giving the Reds a dream start to the second half when his well struck shot on the volley from John Arne Riise's deep cross forced the Bolton 'keeper into a smart save at his near post.

Liverpool went even closer after 56 minutes when Riise got on the end of Nunez's cross and saw his low shot from a tight angle scrambled off the line by Bolton defender Ben Haim.

Benitez used all three substitutes during the second half, introducing Anthony Le Tallec, Vladimir Smicer and Fernando Morientes in a bid to find a goal, but as the minutes ticked by it looked like it wasn't going to be the Reds' day.

Then, with the clock showing 85 minutes, Traore dribbled along the goal line before chipping to the far post for Biscan to head home.

Full time: Liverpool 1-0 Bolton

LINK: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N148343050402-1654.htm