LAST season's Player of the Year Kevin Davies remained remarkably calm after his prodded goal led Bolton to third place in the Premiership table.

The determined Davies was Wanderers' hero as Liverpool introduced Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia for their debuts. The men from the other end of the East Lancs also had a goal disallowed for offside late on.

Davies, clear on the right side of goal, coolly gathered and prodded in a shot from Henrik Pesdersen's powerful run and cross. He then stood and carefully gathered the plaudits.

Liverpool's new Spanish signings Alonso and Garcia both started and were part of a five-man midfield.

The visitors were dealt a blow when centre-back Sami Hyypia was replaced by Djimi Traore because of a broken nose aftger being accidentally hit by Davies' elbow.

Dietmar Hamann shot tamely wide after 21 minutes before Jamie Carragher came to Liverpool's rescue at the other end as the game began to come to life.

The Wanderfers winner came when Pedersen burst past right-back Josemi and his low cross to the far post was coolly slotted home from close range by Davies.

Cisse came on for Stephen Warnock after the interval but Bolton were the first to attack, with Dudek forced into a smart save from Davies.

A scrambling Dudek had to save a header from Jaidi and an Okocha shot next as Liverpool continued to struggle.

Garcia slotted past keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen late on but his joy was shortlived as he was seemingly wrongly flagged for offside.

Cisse almost took advantage of a mistake in the home defence only to shoot high as Bolton held on comfortably for the win.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, N'Gotty, Jaidi, Gardner, Okocha (Hierro 85), Campo, Speed, Giannakopoulos (Nolan 75), Davies (Ferdinand 72), Pedersen. Subs Not Used: Poole, Cesar.

Booked: Nolan, Hierro.

Goals: Davies 38.

Liverpool: Dudek, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia (Traore 14), Riise, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Hamann, Warnock (Cisse 45), Gerrard, Baros. Subs Not Used: Diao, Biscan, Harrison.

Attendance: 27,880

Referee: Uriah Rennie (S Yorkshire).