Even without Michael Owen, Liverpool still had too much attacking class for Bolton as Gerard Houllier's strikers finally discovered their goalscoring boots to keep in touch with Arsenal.

Liverpool's French manager had left Owen, who has looked below par this season, on the bench, but was rewarded as the attacking partnership of Milan Baros and Emile Heskey conjured up three goals.

Owen has managed just one goal this season - a penalty - but by the end of play Baros had marked his Premiership debut with a brace.

In recent weeks Liverpool have shown a propensity to snatch draws from the jaws of victory and although Ricardo Gardner and Ivan Campo reawakened Botlon's hopes, Houllier's side triumphed thanks to Heskey's late finish.

Emboldened by the midweek victory at Manchester United, Bolton initially pushed Liverpool back, with Youri Djorkaeff pulling the strings in midfield.

With the challenges flying in thick and fast - Salif Diao in particular made his presence felt - Djorkaeff's vision and deft touches frequently unpicked Liverpool's defensive blanket.

Djorkaeff's set-piece delivery also unnerved Liverpool and it was from one of his corners that a volley from Per Frandsen bourgh out the best in Jerzy Dudek.

Djorkaeff was also eager to get into attacking positions himself and from one Bolton move, inevitably started by the Frenchman, the former Kaiserslautern striker scuffed his volley on the edge of the box.

As the interval approached each side spurned some golden opportunities to break the deadlock.

First Dean Holdsworth completely missed his shot with the goal gaping after good work from Gardner and then Baros hit the post after being sent clear by Dietmar Hamann.

Bruno Cheyrou, who had become increasingly influential as the game progressed, cleverly stepped over Hamann's pass, allowing Baros to pick up the ball on the edge of the box.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Barness (Livesey 30), Bergsson, Whitlow (Campo 45), Charlton, Nolan, Frandsen, Gardner, Djorkaeff (Walters 75), Dean Holdsworth, Pedersen.
Subs Not Used: Poole, Okocha.

Booked: Bergsson, Gardner.

Liverpool: Dudek, Diao, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Murphy, Gerrard, Hamann, Heskey, Baros, Cheyrou (Riise 85).
Subs Not Used: Diouf, Owen, Berger, Kirkland.

Booked: Hamann, Baros.

Attendance: 27,328

Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)