MATCHING their rivals stride for stride was always going to be key to Liverpool sustaining a realistic title challenge this season.

And it’s been done successfully. Every time Chelsea and Manchester United have taken a backward step, Liverpool have done likewise and failed to build on their lead at the top.

But yesterday was far more encouraging and an indication that Rafael Benitez’s side do possess at least one quality that champions are made of – by responding to your challengers’ victories with one of your own.

There will, of course, be many tougher challenges than this to come, mainly because a negative Bolton failed to provide one.

However, the anxiety that has undermined recent attempts to extend – or in yesterday’s case, regain – that lead on their home ground was discarded like Christmas wrapping, with Albert Riera settling the early nerves and Robbie Keane settling a few scores with two second-half goals.

And with Chelsea and United both having posted three points of their own earlier in the day, it was absolutely vital.

Especially as Liverpool went into the game having slipped from the top when Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men banished their own home demons for a routine victory over West Bromwich Albion.

The failure to win at Anfield since they recorded their own win over WBA in early November is the main reason why Chelsea are still in such a threatening position and remain so by sitting just one point off Liverpool’s flimsy lead.

But while debilitating draws with Fulham, West Ham and Hull have foiled Liverpool’s attempts to capitalise on others dropping points, they proved yesterday that while they lost their lead, it wouldn’t lead to them losing their confidence.

The tempo and tenacity in evidence from the kick-off ensured that Wanderers would never be able to cope and Riera’s 26th-minute header was reward for that.

However, it was Keane who will be most satisfied with the way the afternoon unfolded.

Before Sunday, his only two Premier League goals for Liverpool had come in that simple win over bottom side West Brom.

But he has now scored more than that in his last two games and in the process has transformed his fledgling Anfield career – and he was even allowed to complete the full 90 minutes yesterday.

Merry Christmas, indeed.

The Irishman proved his worth as a lone striker with a stunning strike against Arsenal in the 1-1 draw at the Emirates on Sunday.

You’d struggle to find anything sweeter in your selection box.

Still brimming with confidence from that, Keane settled the issue against Bolton with two goals in five minutes, a perfectly timed contribution not just in terms of the game but as a message to those who might be preparing to wave their chequebooks at Benitez in five days’ time.

Any such speculation clearly isn’t weighing heavily on the player himself, proven by the carefree way he took his first goal, hitting Steven Gerrard’s weighted pass first-time with his left foot without breaking stride.

The tap-in from Yossi Benayoun’s centre five minutes later ensured Benitez could relax in the directors’ box for the final half-hour – he may not have been in his favourite seat but he hasn’t enjoyed an afternoon at Anfield as much for a long time.