The mass bank of empty seats in the South Stand spoke louder than any verbal criticism from the supporters that had occupied them could have done.
Liverpool, to put it simply, were awful. Kenny Dalglish, speaking after the game, could not contain his disgust at the way the players acquitted themselves. Answering questions about what went wrong, Dalglish said of the players,
"If they needed a lesson to be taught to them then today was it. If they think they can just turn up and get a result, not be as competitive and not match the opposition for effort and commitment then they've got a lesson today. If they've learned it then fine… The key now for us is not to repeat what we've done."
Only Craig Bellamy and Pepe Reina can probably look the manager in the eye confident in the knowledge that they had no case to answer. The other nine were all, some more than others, guilty as charged.
The pattern of the game was established within the opening four minutes as Liverpool’s defence conceded a goal that seemed to occur in slow motion. Mark Davies drifted passed Skrtel, who clearly felt a challenge would bring a penalty and possible red card, before setting himself to toe poke the ball into the corner. Both Johnson and Agger belatedly stretched themselves to try and block the shot but both had reacted too slowly to the initial danger.
Minutes later Agger and Enrique exchanged hurried passes on the touchline that gave Chris Eagles the chance to dispossess the Spaniard and put a ball across the six yard box that only just eluded his teammates.
Bolton continued to be the better side and doubled their lead on twenty-nine minutes. Eagles was once again allowed to run unchallenged before finding Reo-Coker in the box and the midfielder made no mistake from six yards out.
This second goal finally seemed to rouse some determination and pride in the visitors and Carroll set Bellamy through on goal but Adam Bogdan in the Bolton goal easily smothered the Welshman’s shot. In the thirty-seventh minute Carroll repeated the assist and this time Bellamy drew the keeper before coolly flicking the ball beyond him and into the net.
Any hope that Bolton would crumble were quickly dashed and they could have restored their two goal margin on the verge of half time but Reina did well to beat away Petrov’s free kick.
Whatever Dalglish said at half time fell on deaf ears as the second half began with Liverpool conceding another poor goal in the opening minutes. Wheater met Petrov’s corner at the far post and his header found an unmarked Gretar Steinsson on the penalty spot who swept the ball into the corner.
The Reds barely mustered a response to this blow. Dalglish brought on Kuyt and Downing but neither player had any impact. The closest they came to getting a foothold back in the game was a Daniel Agger shot that hit the bar but Bolton were never tested by a period of sustained Liverpool pressure.
In a season of quality performances that in many instances have gone under rewarded the last two games have seen Liverpool fail to create enough chances and look badly out of form.
On Saturday they also failed to match the effort and desire of their opponents. That is a failing that has reared itself at some point under all the managers that have sat in the Anfield dug out since Dalglish left it in 1991.
This recurring flaw, the inability to consistently produce performances in the league that reflect the talent in those respective squads, has been one of the mysteries of the last twenty years.
We have seen players and teams that look like they are ready to end the title drought only for them to fall at what seem unnecessary hurdles. This year the bar is set at a forth place finish but the same principles apply.
Perhaps it’s the pressure of trying to return the club to former glories or perhaps a percentage of the players think they have made it by signing their contracts.
Either way on a weekend where other results went Liverpool’s way a lack of focus and fight was totally unacceptable and Dalglish, having supported these players resolutely against any and all media criticism, was right to publicly admonish them.
Having questioned their pride Dalglish also laid down the gauntlet after the game saying, “If that’s the level they expect the football club to play at they wont be here long”
The upcoming week sees the two Manchester clubs arrive at Anfield in massive cup games that will determine whether Liverpool still have trophies to chase this season.
Whatever the outcome in both those matches Dalglish and the fans will be looking to the fixture at Wolves on the following Tuesday for evidence that lessons from the Reebok have been learned.