Maxi Rodriguez scored the winner with four minutes left as Liverpool deservedly beat Bolton 1-0 on Sunday to move out of the Premier League's relegation zone.
The Argentina midfielder ran onto a deft flick by Fernando Torres to toe-poke a shot underneath Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, earning Liverpool a second successive league win.
Torres had earlier been guilty of a couple of glaring first-half misses and with Steven Gerrard and Sotiris Krygiakos also wasting decent chances, it looked as if Liverpool was going to come away with only a point from a match it dominated for large parts.
But Rodriguez's goal put the 18-time champions into 12th position on 12 points, just three off fifth-placed Tottenham.
With his team having also beaten Blackburn last weekend, things look a lot rosier for manager Roy Hodgson, who took over in July but has seen the Reds endure a dreadful start to the season.
They looked much more assured at the Reebok Stadium, bossing possession and comfortably withstanding Bolton's direct approach. The home side had very few opportunities, with center backs Krygiakos and Martin Skrtel marshaling striker Johan Elmander well, and was lucky not to have lost by a bigger margin.
Torres has only scored twice in the league this season and looks bereft of confidence after struggling with injury problems for much of the year. His overall game was slightly improved from recent matches but in prime form, the Spain striker would have expected to have taken at least one of two chances given to him in the first eight minutes.
The first was a header from a Gerrard corner that Torres sent over the bar but a better opportunity presented itself when he was set free, again by the England midfielder.
After taking a touch, Torres could have taken aim but decided to cut inside defender Zat Knight, by which time Jaaskelainen had come out and forced the striker to poke an effort way off target.
Bolton finally came into the game and midfielder Stuart Holden's perfectly timed volley was directed straight at Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who held on well.
Gerrard scuffed wide a 20-yard shot in the 41st after running onto a lay-off by Torres before flighting a stoppage-time free kick to Krygiakos, whose header was beaten away by Jaaskelainen.
Liverpool remained on top at the start of the second half but was forced into a change when Joe Cole pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring strain, before being replaced by David Ngog.
Krygiakos headed a Gerrard corner just over in the 65th before Rodriguez was narrowly off target with an overhead kick following a flowing move involving Gerrard and Torres.
At the other end, a free kick whipped in by Taylor was glanced inches wide by Kevin Davies but Liverpool was not to be denied, Rodriguez racing onto Torres' flick and seeing his shot fly into the roof of the net off Jaaskelainen's elbow.
