Liverpool have taken a point off Arsenal away at the Emirates which will put them in the right frame of mind for the match against the Trotters. So far, in direct clashes against the rest from the Big Four, Liverpool are the undisputed leaders, having collected seven out of nine possible points. Liverpool defeated United at Anfield, defeated Chelsea at the Bridge and drew with Arsenal in London, with the corresponding fixtures suggesting that Chelsea and Arsenal will have to make the trip to hostile Anfield, whilst Liverpool will have to face the Stretford End.

Meanwhile Benitez is still recovering from a kidney stones operation, but is expected back on the bench at Anfield against Bolton on Boxing Day, December 26.

Allegedly El Nino will miss his sixth match again, in spite of having made "a good improvement" on his hamstring injury. Assistant Liverpool manager Sammy Lee has indicated that the Fernando Torres will not play against Bolton, as he is not fully fit as of yet.

"He improves with every training session and he has worked very hard on his rehabilitation," Lee said.

"He is getting better. We will put him in when we see fit." he said, as quoted by the BBC.

Meanwhile, the official Liverpool website, Liverpoolfc.tv reports that during the holiday programme and the upcoming away match against Newcastle on December 28, the Liverpool strike force is going to consist of Robbie Keane, who scored a priceless goal against Arsenal on Sunday, in partnership with Steven Gerrard.

The top of the Premiership is getting increasingly congested with the difference between the teams getting narrower by the minute. With the Big Four (apart from United) spilling again, and Aston Villa on the march, Liverpool lead Chelsea by a point, Aston Villa by five points and Manchester United by seven. The Red Devils however have two matches in hand, which they will have to fit in their already congested programme.  Should Liverpool avoid defeat, they will end 2008 with an unbeaten home record in the Premiership.

Meanwhile, The Trotters have won just a single Premier League point from a possible 27 at Anfield and have not managed to beat Liverpool at Anfield since the 1-2 victory in January 1954. From thereafter, the statistics for the Trotters get even worse, having drawn two and lost 11 of their 13 league visits. This match pits the club with fewest defeats in the Premier League, Liverpool with just one from Tottenham.  Liverpool have won five and drawn four at home; Wanderers have won four and lost five away.