Rafael Benitez has praised the work done by former Bolton manager Sammy Lee, who was axed in October to make way for Gary Megson.

The Liverpool boss comes face to face with Megson's team on Sunday and accepts that the Trotters' victory over champions Manchester United last weekend has made the Anfield club's task even harder.

Benitez acknowledges the revival Megson has overseen, claiming that Bolton 'fought like lions' for their win over United.

But the Spaniard also insists that former Liverpool coach Lee was a good manager at the Reebok Stadium and suffered from bad luck before he was sacked.

He said: "Bolton will have a lot of confidence after beating Manchester United, that makes the game tougher for us.

"But we do have experience of playing against Bolton and the style they use.

"Sammy was doing a good job before but maybe he had no luck. Now the new manager is trying some different things but be is still benefiting from the good job that was done before.

"When a new manager takes over, he cannot win games if things were being done badly beforehand.

"If you have a good manager working for you, but he ends up being fired, the new manager cannot change everything and start winning games if something was badly wrong before."

Lee has been linked with a return to Anfield in a coaching capacity, speculation denied by Benitez, but the Liverpool boss still has high regard for Lee's work.

He said: "Sammy laid some of the foundations for this season at Bolton. If one manager is doing a good job but leaves, the next manager can profit from that good work.

"Sammy can be a very good manager, and what has happened will give him experience for the future.

"Bolton have done well recently, though. They did so well against Manchester United, they were fighting like lions for their win. We know how difficult it will be for us to beat them because of that."

Benitez will select from an unchanged squad against Bolton and hopes that defender Daniel Agger will be back in action soon.

The Danish youngster suffered a recurrence of a metatarsal injury earlier this month which delayed his comeback having been out since September.

But Benitez has revealed that Agger is trying out a special new boot that Liverpool hope will speed up his recovery.

He said: "He is back running but has had trouble with his boot and the injury. But he is now trying a special boot and I hope he will be playing again in days."

Benitez is still without Xabi Alonso and Jermaine Pennant, both long-term injuries, but will select from the squad that beat Porto 4-1 in midweek.

Chief executive Rick Parry has, meanwhile, dismissed claims that co-owner Tom Hicks might be willing to sell his stake in the club as "complete rubbish".

Parry was moved to respond after a report yesterday morning suggested Hicks - who only took over the club along with fellow American George Gillett nine months ago - was ready to offload his holding in the wake of his row with manager Rafael Benitez.

"I have seen the story, and as far as I am aware it is complete rubbish," Parry said.