THE Old Lady of Turin may be circling but it was an ageing Texan who was in the spotlight at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
A surprise visit from co-owner Tom Hicks ensured attention was diverted from Rafa Benitez’s admission that he was flattered by Juventus’ interest in his services.
On the basis that Hicks only ever turns up for big showdowns in front of the Sky cameras, it’s fair to assume he was on Merseyside to conduct some business.
Supporters certainly left him in no doubt that they hope his trip involves ending the Americans’ acrimonious three-year reign.
New investment is undoubtedly crucial to ensuring the debt-ridden club don’t endure another season like this one. Both in terms of building the new stadium in Stanley Park as well as adding quality to a squad in obvious need of reinforcements.
The big question is whether Benitez will be around to mastermind the revival.
Perhaps Hicks dropped in on Saturday to judge the mood on The Kop towards the manager amid a campaign of such dreadful under-achievement.
Or maybe he crossed the Atlantic on a mission to convince Benitez to turn his back on the Italian job this summer.
What he found was that most of the vitriol is still directed at the boardroom and not the dugout.
Hicks certainly had plenty of time to ponder his thoughts as angry protesters ensured he was kept in the ground for his own safety long after an uninspiring contest had concluded.
This was Liverpool’s fourth successive home league win and it extended their unbeaten league run to six games.
With Tottenham letting slip a lead to draw at Birmingham, it allowed the Reds to close within a point of the coveted fourth place.
Afterwards Benitez reiterated his guarantee of Champions League qualification, but the manager knows his side are going to have to raise their game considerably if that promise is to materialise.
For 45 minutes it made painful viewing.
Time after time Liverpool squandered possession cheaply with their passing alarmingly sloppy.
Bolton haven’t won a league game at Anfield for over half a century but they won’t get a better chance.
If Chung-Yong Lee had provided the finishing touch to a mazy run from the halfway line midway through the first half the Trotters would have sent shockwaves around an increasingly nervy crowd.
As it was the Reds burst the bubble of anxiety with a goal they scarcely deserved eight minutes before the break.
Fast-improving Emiliano Insua provided a stream of quality crosses throughout the afternoon and from one pinpoint delivery, Alberto Aquilani nodded back across goal for Dirk Kuyt to bundle home his ninth of the season into the net at The Kop End.
Kuyt raced off to praise the Italian for the assist but in truth it was the £18million midfielder’s solitary contribution.
Benitez had raised eyebrows after the stalemate at Wolves in midweek when he insisted the game was too physical and the ball was in the air too much for him to consider playing a man who he splashed out half of his summer transfer kitty on.
Having just produced his most promising display in a red shirt against Spurs, it must have been tough for Aquilani to take and his confidence looks wafer-thin.
Recalled at the expense of Lucas, the hope was the former Roma star would provide the creativity and attacking impetus the Reds have lacked.
Instead Aquilani was the chief culprit during a first half when he sprayed 40-yard passes to fans sitting in the Main Stand.
He was knocked off the ball far too easily and failed to stamp his authority on proceedings.
When he finally picked out his skipper with a simple pass, there was sympathetic applause for a player clearly struggling to come to terms with life in England’s top flight.
It could well be next season before the Reds see the best of him but in their current predicament the question is whether Liverpool can afford to carry him.
