Bolton and Liverpool clash again after the last game ended in a 0-0 draw, the replay will be played at Bolton’s home ground and they will be looking to put one over their Premier League opponents. Liverpool didn’t really do much in the last match against Bolton but they should be boosted by the fact that Daniel Sturridge returned to first team action during the weekend with a goal against West Ham United.
Bolton have not been in the best of form since their draw against Liverpool, they won and drew their last 2 games and would need all the help they can to keep a Liverpool team out, who seem to be getting better as each game goes by.
Team News:
The biggest news to come out from the Bolton team is that their hero from the last game Adam Bogdan is out due to injury and will not feature against the Reds. Old Liverpool player Emile Heskey would also miss out on the tie as will a few other Bolton players, Mark Tierney, Mark Davies and Max Clayton. There is a bit of a doubt about the fitness of Darren Pratley and he could be a last minute inclusion into the team.
Liverpool do not really have any injury problems, Daniel Sturridge returned to the team and although he wont start, he could be on the bench yet again, in case Liverpool need him. Steven Gerrard could come on to start his 700th game for Liverpool as he was rested against West Ham. Liverpool could play some fringe players as they have a Merseyside Derby waiting for them after this game.
Key Battles:
Clough vs. Skrtel
The 19 year old Clough singed for Bolton recently and will be looking to provide a shock to the Premier League side but he will be up against one of the toughest defenders in the Premier League, Martin Skrtel who will not give an inch to any player.
The Bolton defence vs. Coutinho & Sterling
If Bolton think they can win this game, they would need to keep the pair of Sterling and Coutinho quiet throughout the game. The Brazilian signed a new deal for Liverpool and is looking like one of those players who can pretty much do anything in attack while Sterling has looked like a new player after his mini holiday in Jamaica, Bolton have been warned.
Lonergan vs. The Liverpool attack
The Liverpool attack has been getting sharper as the games go by and it is no doubt that new goalkeeper Lonergan will have his hands full, literally. The likes of Lallana, Markovic, Coutinho and Sterling would be looking to pepper the goal of Lonergan and he would need to be in top form to be able to keep them out.
Stats:
Liverpool have only lost once in their last 12 matches against Bolton.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 12 games in all competitions.
Bolton have lost only twice in their last 15 games in all competitions.
Bolton have conceded 6 goals in their last 2 games while Liverpool have conceded only 2 goals in their last 6 games.
Quotes:
Neil Lennon, Bolton Wanderers manager: ‘Why Bolton?’ The majority of managers in the Premier League managed in the Championship and earned the right to be in the Premier league, so it was the logical step for me in terms of my progression.”
“I followed Kenny Dalglish at Celtic and then at Liverpool. Watching Liverpool in Europe had a huge impact on me as a young boy. They were the dominant team in England and Europe as well.”
Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager: “Yes, he’s (Gerrard) fine. He trained great this morning. I’ve got to look at the risk as well, and how tight his hamstring was after the game. It was 120 minutes.
“We measure the recovery process and look at that. If it’s too much of a risk we feel, like you saw on Saturday we have got other players to come in and we can just manage that recovery process for him individually.
“Then it allows him to maybe miss the game, have a bridging session – like he did yesterday and came into the session today and was outstanding, with no ill effects – and then prepares him for the game on Wednesday, if selected.”
Possible starting line-ups:
Bolton Wanderers XI: Lonergan, Moxey, Ream, Dervite, Mills, Vela, Danns, Feeney, Clough, Davies, Pratley
Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Can, Sakho, Skrtel, Henderson, Moreno, Lucas, Gerrard, Coutinho, Sterling, Markovic
Prediction:
Although Bolton will have the home crowd cheering them on, it should be Liverpool who should progress. The Reds are in great form and should just have enough to deal with Bolton.
Quotes courtesy: Express & Liverpool FC
Picture courtesy: LiverpoolEcho, Sky Sports, Liverpool FC, & Express
