Igor Biscan's Anfield future may be uncertain but the giant Croatian soared to send Liverpool's Champions League dreams sky-high on a tense day on Merseyside.

The gangling midfielder could well be part of boss Rafael Benitez's summer cull, but his header in the dying minutes could be one of the turning points of Liverpool's season.

With a patched-up side, stripped of a fully-fit striker, they somehow survived against a physical, driven Bolton who must surely have felt this was a victory there for the taking when they saw Liverpool's team sheet.

But somehow Liverpool survived the aerial bombardment, with Steve Finnan twice heading off the line, as Bolton fought for the victory they needed to maintain their own dreams of the Champions League.

It was only the third goal of Biscan's Anfield career, but it cut Everton's lead in fourth spot to just one point with their Mersey rivals feeling the heat now at West Brom on Sunday.

Benitez's injury problems worsened before kick-off when goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek returned from World Cup duty with Poland nursing a hamstring problem.

Scott Carson came in, with Benitez hoping that by not risking the Pole he might be fit for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Juventus.

Fernando Morientes was also not considered fit enough following his thigh injury to start the game, while John Welsh, fresh from his impressive England Under-21 performances, played in midfield while Djimi Traore returned at full back.

Single-minded Bolton had no such troubles and had Nicky Hunt fit from his knee problem and fielded the side that beat Norwich last time out.

Such was Liverpool's chronic lack of front men that captain Steven Gerrard played as an out-and-out striker, with Luis Garcia in support.

Bolton would surely not have a better chance to inflict a mortal wound on Liverpool's dreams of fourth spot and enhancing their own.

They started at full throttle. Benitez, having moaned about Bolton's tactics at corners, saw Carson under continual pressure from set-plays.

Bolton piled men forward and Gary Speed's fourth-minute corner was missed by Carson with Ricardo Gardner's header going inches over.

Stelios Giannakopoulos had a fierce low drive held by Carson, and somehow Steve Finnan got his head onto a crashing Bruno N'Gotty drive on the line, the ball soaring into the air before being scrambled away.

Bolton, physical, powerful and hugely committed, hurled themselves into the fray and somehow Liverpool's mix-and-match side survived the early onslaught.

There was a nasty edge already about the game, with John Arne Riise and Hunt squaring up to each other after the Bolton man hauled back the Norwegian. Then Tal Ben Haim was lectured by referee Steve Bennett for clattering through the back of Luis Garcia's ankles.

The next offence was a trip by Fernando Hierro on Antonio Nunez - former Real Madrid club-mates - and this time the official did get his book out.

Jamie Carragher almost scored an own goal on 23 minutes when he stretched to intercept an angled cross, leaving Carson floundering with the ball bouncing just wide.

Luis Garcia's cross-shot and a blistering Gerrard free-kick which Jaaskelainen beat away were Liverpool's best opportunities in the first period.

Three minutes into the second half Jaaskelainen produced an excellent save at his near post when Nunez struck a fine volley from Riise's cross that almost crept in at the foot of the post.

Riise then saw an angled effort cleared away from the line by Ben Haim, Liverpool at last having some joy against Bolton's organisation.

Liverpool then lost the limping Riise, replaced by Anthony Le Tallec, with Luis Garcia moving to a more orthodox left-sided role.

Bolton then sent on an extra striker in Henrik Pedersen for Giannakopoulos for the expected final aerial bombardment, Liverpool losing concentration now and giving the ball away too often.

Vladimir Smicer replaced a tiring Welsh - Gerrard dropped into midfield - before Ben Haim was booked for a foul on Smicer, with Mauricio Pellegrino also going into the book for a second foul from behind on Kevin Davies.

Finnan then headed off the line from Davies as Bolton's aerial assaults started to wear down the home side, who brought on Morientes for Nunez with just 12 minutes left.

Vincent Candela was booked for handball before Ivan Campo replaced Hierro.

Liverpool went very close a minute later when Le Tallec got to the line and fired in a cross aimed at Morientes that Gardner blasted away from a yard out.

However, Liverpool did make the breakthrough in the 85th minute.

Traore got to the line and crossed for Biscan to head down and in from three yards. Anfield erupted in surprise as much as sheer joy.

Teams

Liverpool Carson, Finnan, Carragher, Pellegrino, Traore, Nunez (Morientes 79), Welsh (Smicer 73), Biscan, Gerrard, Riise (Le Tallec 60), Luis Garcia.

Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia.

Booked: Pellegrino.

Goals: Biscan 86.

Bolton Jaaskelainen, Hunt (Okocha 50), N'Gotty, Ben Haim, Candela, Hierro (Campo 83), Giannakopoulos (Pedersen 64), Speed, Nolan, Gardner, Davies.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Jaidi.

Booked: Hierro, Ben Haim, Candela.

Att: 43,755

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).