Sander's gift sends Bolton top

It was a poor night for Fowler with Eriksson watching and Houllier, who hauled the striker off in the 64th minute, said: 'When Robbie has sorted out his fitness he will be all right. He had a couple of chances when he should have done better. There is no point in saying anything bad about Sander because at times he has saved us and I am sure that at some stage in the future he will save a result for us. So why add to his sadness?

'He had 29 clean sheets last season. There will be other afternoons and other nights. This was certainly one he will want to forget.'

Emile Heskey appeared to have earned at least a point for Liverpool when he equalised Michael Ricketts' first-half opener but Houllier added: 'I am not disappointed by the result. I am disheartened and gutted. I really feel sorry for the players.You rarely play such a good game away from home. We showed signs of encouragement for the future in terms of our football but the players were unfairly let down by this blunder which cost us at least a point.'

Westerveld was inconsolable after the game, however, and his days as Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper must now be numbered. His fate will now rest on the disparity between what Feyenoord want for Jerzy Dudek, £6.8million, and what Liverpool are willing to pay, £4m.

In fact, with only days to go to the Champions League deadline and Liverpool deeply unsure whether to buy or to stick with a man they already have nagging doubts about, Westerveld's error simply could not have come at a worse time.

Sam Allardyce's men become the first promoted Premiership side to win their first three matches and they begin a two-week break two points clear of Everton at the top of the table.

Allardyce admitted that Holdsworth's goal had been lucky but added: 'You always need a bit of luck. 'I am black and blue from pinching myself. We might have been lucky with the winning goal but I always say when you shoot make sure you hit the target, which Dean did. 'I am glad we have a couple of weeks off now to get our feet back on the ground.'

Holdsworth said:'We're raising expectancy levels each game and we need to quietly go about our business. We don't want to shout about it, but it's a fabulous result. Skipper Gudni Bergsson said: 'We can't believe it. It has been a fantastic start.'