Bolton manager Sam Allardyce was forced to make an early substitution in the 31st minute, taking off the injured Anthony Barness and throwing on Danny Livesey for his debut.

Liverpool were gradually gaining a hold on the game and Heskey should have done better when he broke clear down the left in the 36th minute only to pull his right-foot shot wildly wide of the near post.

Bolton’s Dean Holdsworth then completely missed his kick on the penalty spot for another gilt-edged home opportunity.

But in the 38th minute Liverpool had the best chance of the half, Milan Baros cashing in on some woeful Bolton defending to surge clear, only to see his right-foot shot come back off a post.

Bolton captain Gudni Bergsson was booked for his subsequent protests to the assistant referee.

Baros, however, made up for his earlier miss with a goal on the stroke of half-time when wriggled past the Bolton defence and unleashed a spectacular right-foot shot.