Bolton 2 Liverpool 1
27/08/01: Bolton roared back to the top of the Premiership with a famous victory over side who had forgotten what it felt like to lose.
It was Sander Westerveld's shocking error in the dying minutes that saw Bolton achieve the unthinkable against a side which collected their fifth trophy of an incredible year when they took the Super Cup against Bayern Munich on Friday.
Dean Holdsworth's 30-yarder incredibly slipped through Westerveld's dive to re-open the debate over the Dutch international's long-term future as Anfield's number one.
Bolton had been flung back on the ropes after Liverpool had fought back from being behind at the break through Michael Ricketts header.
Substitute Emile Heskey had equalised with his first touch, and it looked for all the world that Liverpool would turn their massive possession into more goals.
But don't take anything away from Bolton. They are more than just battlers. They have desire, a plan and a refusal to wilt. And they are now the only club in the Premiership with a 100% record.
Houllier's only concession to England's World Cup needs at the weekend was to leave out Heskey and give Robbie Fowler a run, his first start of the season.
Steven Gerrard was there from the off, as were the majority of the rest of his club and country colleagues.
After a flowing start, the cracks started to appear in the Liverpool rearguard.
Dietmar Hamann managed a poor header and the ball fell to Per Frandsen who smashed a dipping volley over Westerveld's bar.
Liverpool did create the chances. Gary McAllister was thwarted by a last ditch Anthony Barness interception, and Michael Owen tried countless times to cut through on solo runs.
But Bolton wouldn't be deflected from their task and it was more than an uncomfortable night for Stephane Henchoz and Sami Hyypia against the aggression of Ricketts and the midfield drive of Per Frandsen.
And after 26 minutes, the Lancashire outfit gained their reward, Liverpool again succumbing to an aerial threat, just as they did twice against Bayern three days ago.
This time it came after Gardner's cross following a well-worked corner was headed back into the six yard box by Paul Warhurst to an unmarked Ricketts who planted his header wide of the exposed Westerveld.
Liverpool's anguish deepened when referee Graham Poll booked Fowler for diving in the box after the Anfield star had taken the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen and tumbled over the keeper's arms.
Liverpool took off Babbel at the break for teenager John Arne Riise, and they embarked on sustained bid to claw their way back into the match.
Ricketts was replaced by Holdsworth as Liverpool piled on the pressure, but continually wasted the final pass or gave away possession cheaply.
Owen clipped a 55th minute header wide from McAllister's corner, but the understanding with Fowler just wasn't there, and the disconsolate 26 year-old was finally put out of his misery when Heskey came on after 62 minutes.
The obvious disappointed and frustration was patently clear for all to see as he trudged off.
But the substitution worked a treat, and the big man's first touch saw Liverpool's equaliser.
McAllister turned cleverly in the box onto Hamann's pass and laid the ball wide for Heskey to cooly drill home from 12 yards.
Jaaskelainen made another superb save from Heskey on shortly afterwards and Liverpool pushed on in search of the winner.
But it was Bolton who snatched it.
Holdsworth cut in from the left to unleash a 30-yarder that Westerveld managed to let slip under his body to ensure another famous Bolton victory. -PA