Rafael Benitez has praised the work done by former Bolton boss 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.
"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."
