Keane on target twice to keep Reds top of the table
Keane helped Liverpool stay ahead of Chelsea in the title race
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Friday, 26, Dec 2008 10:34
Robbie Keane continued to defy his critics by firing in two goals during Liverpool's 3-0 win over Bolton Wanderers at Anfield that keeps them top of the league.
Having earned the Reds a draw against Arsenal last week he was on target again to ensure Rafael Benitez's side ended the day where they had started it.
Albert Riera scored Liverpool's first goal but Keane's two strikes early in the second half killed-off any threat from Bolton.
The visitors did show some early promise when Kevin Nolan was played in but he sent his shot high over the bar.
Liverpool then dominated the match with Keane and Riera shooting wide before Emiliano Insua's volley from a corner forced Jussi Jaaskelainen to save.
Insua's shot may have been a warning to the Trotters for what was to come as Riera latched onto a corner that was floated to the far post to volley past Jaaskelainen and give the Reds the lead.
Defenders Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher both went close with long-range efforts before the break but it was Keane who struck with devastating effect at the start of the second period.
Stephen Gerrard slipped in the striker who took one touch to control the ball before smashing it past Jaaskelainen.
Five minutes later it was 3-0 as the Reds sliced through the Bolton defence once more.
Xabi Alonso drove up field as the Wanderers defence backed off him. The Spaniard then fed Yossi Benayoun on the wing who picked out Keane who was on hand to side-foot in his second.
Liverpool then cruised through the last 30 minutes of the match. Bolton almost got a consolation goal but Ebi Smolarek's shot went just wide.
In the closing moments Jaaskelainen did well to deny Benayoun and David Ngog with an excellent double save.
The win meant Liverpool were able to bring an end to a run of three consecutive draws in the league at Anfield during December.