EVERY Wanderers match is covered "live" on this web site.

This is how we reported from Anfield:

14:27: SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2003

BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP

LIVERPOOL v WANDERERS

VALENCIA striker Salva Ballesta was handed his first Premiership start as Wanderers aimed to topple the Worthington Cup winners in the 100th league meeting between the old North-west rivals.

The Spaniard - one of three deadline-day loan signings - had a taste of English football as substitute in the back-to-back 1-1 draws at West Brom and at home to Manchester United but was promoted form the bench when Henrik Pedersen was ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Wanderers were otherwise unchanged from the side that performed so well in the Reebok derby against the Manchester Reds a fortnight ago - Florent Laville keeping his place at centre-back after an impressive debut.

Per Frandsen returned from suspension but had to settle for a place on the subs' bench.

Liverpool, triumphant against Manchester United in the Worthington Cup Final at Cardiff, were without defender Stephane Henchoz and striker Emile Heskey. As expected, Djimi Traore was drafted in for Henchoz but Gerard Houllier sprang something of a surprise by preferring Vladimir Smicer to Milan Baros as Heskey's replacement.

Liverpool: Dudek; Riise, Hyypia, Traore, Carragher, Murphy, Gerrard, Hamann, Smicer, Owen, Diouf. Subs: Baros, Diao, Biscan, Cheyrou, Arphexad.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Bergsson, Laville, Charlton; Mendy, Okocha, Campo, Gardner, Djorkaeff; Salva. Subs: Frandsen, Nolan, Andre, Barness, Poole.

Referee: Graham Barber (Tring, Herts).

15:57: LIVERPOOL 1, WANDERERS 0.

Half-time

WANDERERS went behind to a controversial goal at the end of an even first half at Anfield.

Furious Bolton players surrounded referee Graham Barber and his linesman, appealing for offside after El-Hadji Diouf had headed Liverpool into a 45th minute lead.

Michael Owen's cross did the damage after the England man had beaten Simon Charlton but Diouf looked suspiciously out of order as he met the ball almost on the goal-line to succeed where Owen and Vladimir Smicer had earlier failed in beating Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Wanderers again paid for failing to take advantage of good opportunities - Ricardo Gardner squandering the best when he miscued with only Jerzy Dudek to beat after Salva cashed in on Sami Hyypia's poor clearance.

Djimi Traore had twice come to Liverpool's rescue, making desperate clearances to prevent Youri Djorkaeff and Charlton making headway in the area and Dudek had to stretch to palm away a cross-shot from the lively Bernard Mendy.

Liverpool's answer was a header wide by Hyypia when Dietmar Hamann's cross found him unmarked in the 32nd minute.

Wanderers were giving the Worthington Cup winners a real run for their money but they had Jaaskelainen to thank for a superb double save from Owen and Smicer to save Florent Laville's blushes.

16:52: LIVERPOOL 2, WANDERERS 0.

WANDERERS' hopes of finding Liverpool in hangover mood after their Worthington Cup triumph were dashed as the Mersey Reds recorded their first home Premiership win since November.

Sam Allardyce might argue that his team was hard done by with the first half ending in uproar after Liverpool took the lead with a hotly-disputed header by El-Hadji Diouf. But they missed chances to nose in front during dominant first half spells and were the architects of their own downfall with defensive mistakes contributing to both Liverpool goals.

Simon Charlton - beaten by Michael Owen in the lead-up to the first - had two chances to clear the ball under pressure from Diouf before the £10 million man from Senegal teed up Owen for the second in the 67th minute.

Liverpool: Dudek; Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Riise, Murphy, Gerrard, Hamann, Smicer, Owen, Diouf. Subs: Cheyrou for Smicer (57 mins), Diao for Gerrard (72 mins). Not used; Baros, Biscan, Arphexed.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Bergsson, Laville, Charlton, Mendy, Okocha, Campo, Gardner, Djorkaeff, Salva. Subs: Andre for Mendy (60 mins), Nolan for Salva (70 mins). Not used: Frandsen, Barness, Poole.

Referee: Graham Barber (Tring, Herts).

Attendance: 41,462.