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Mike Egerton
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Bolton v Liverpool, FA Cup replay

Bolton met Liverpool once again, after the sides drew their initial encounter.

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Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog, as Liverpool meet Neil Lennon’s Bolton for the second time in the FA Cup, after the sides drew the initial encounter 0-0 at Anfield.

Soccer - FA Cup - Fouth Round - Replay - Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool - Macron Stadium Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

The fans are well wrapped up tonight…

We’re underway…

On his 700th appearance, Steven Gerrard starts in the deeper role in front of the defence.

It’s been an assured start from Liverpool, who are passing it about confidently and have dominated possession thus far.

Coutinho is look sharp tonight.

The Brazilian outfoxes his marker, before playing it to Lallana, but there is no one in the box to convert the England international’s cross.

Sterling and Lallana link up well before the latter finds Gerrard arriving late in the box.

The veteran’s midfielder’s first-time strike is powerful, and Lonergan gets down well to save it.

Decent run from Clough, after he dispossesses Joe Allen.

However, Steven Gerrard gets back well to put in a well-timed tackle and avert the danger.

Coutinho finds himself in a good position, but then drags his shot from outside the box well wide.

Neil Lennon’s men look well organised and should prove difficult to break down, as was the case in the first game between these two sides.

That’s the first real chance for Liverpool.

They catch Bolton on the break with Sterling gliding past Wheater, and Lonergan can only parry the youngster’s shot but gathers it at the second attempt with Markovic looming.

Bolton’s turn to attack now.

A cross finds veteran striker Eidur Gudjohnsen on the edge of the box, but the 36-year-old skies his shot.

Bolton have threatened in the final third a couple of times, with Wheater just heading straight into Mignolet’s arms after a free kick was flighted in.

Maybe this game won’t be as one-sided as many people anticipated.

Liverpool have looked vulnerable from set pieces and crosses into the box.

Wheater has just won another header in a dangerous area, but he can’t quite find Gudjohnsen, with Mignolet alert to gather the ball.

 

Of course, if things don’t go according to plan, Liverpool always have this man to turn to on the bench.

Soccer - FA Cup - Fouth Round - Replay - Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool - Macron Stadium Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

 

Bad tackle from Danns, who misses the ball and takes Joe Allen out instead.

The Bolton man is deservedly booked as a consequence.

That’s the closest Liverpool have come so far!

Lallana squares it to Sterling, whose curling shot hits the outside of the post.

Gary Lineker likes what he sees from the 19-year-old.

A Joe Allen pass goes astray and harmlessly out of play for a goal kick.

Liverpool continue to dominate possession and territory, but the Bolton defence continue to have the upperhand on their attack.

Still 0-0 as we approach half-time.

Bolton have been superbly organised by Neil Lennon, who was no stranger to Champions League upsets during his Celtic days, with Barcelona among their more high-profile victims.

Coutinho curls another pot shot just wide.

Along with Sterling, he’s been Liverpool’s most dangerous player.

HALF-TIME: BOLTON 0-0 LIVERPOOL

Ha!

We’re underway again…

Nervous times for Liverpool as Sterling is down with what appears to be an ankle injury.

As I type, he rises to his feet, but looks less than comfortable as he does so.

Sterling goes through on goal but Dervite then makes a wonderful recovery tackle.

The youngster then has a second chance, but his curled attempt is well saved by Lonergan.

PENALTY TO BOLTON!

GOAL! BOLTON 1-0 LIVERPOOL (GUDJOHNSEN PENALTY)

It was a very fortunate penalty, as the youngster Clough went down despite there being no contact between him and Skrtel.

Eidur Gudjohnsen then slots home the penalty to give Bolton a surprise lead.

Here’s a look at that controversial penalty decision.

MoL4 / Vine

RED CARD FOR BOLTON’S NEIL DANNS!

The Bolton man gets a second booking following a rash late challenge.

Daniel Sturridge replaces Joe Allen.

If this wasn’t already an uphill task for Bolton, it certainly is now.

Wow! Bolton have almost made it two.

An inch-perfect cross by Feeney finds Gudjohnsen, but his header is straight at Mignolet. He’ll be disappointed with that effort.

Meanwhile, Bolton make a defensive change, as Trotter replaces Clough.

Bolton are being pressed further and further back into their own half.

This looks set to be a long final 15 minutes for the Championship side.

As I type, Henderson’s shot from the edge of the box hits the post.

Do you agree?

Some desperate last-ditch defending by Bolton, as a Sterling shot is blocked following a couple of deflections around the box.

It’s turning into a bit of a siege on the hosts’ penalty area.

As I type, Henderson blasts a shot just wide from the edge of the box.

The game is now being played almost exclusively in Bolton’s half.

As I type, Lonergan tips a Can shot onto the bar and over.

GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL (STERLING)!

Superb pass from Can to find Sterling, and the youngster finishes coolly.

Finally, Bolton’s stubborn resistance is broken.

Here’s a look at that Sterling goal, replete with a sublime pass by Can.

MoL4 / Vine

LIVERPOOL GOAL (COUTINHO)!

Coutinho curls an unstoppable shot into the top corner to break Bolton hearts.

It’s harsh on Bolton, but that felt inevitable once Liverpool scored the first goal.

Here’s the goal that has Neil Lennon looking thoroughly dejected.

LFCbuzz / Vine

FULL-TIME: BOLTON 1-2 LIVERPOOL

So that’s that then.

Bolton come so close to a shock, but it was virtually one-way traffic once they went down to 10 men, and such was the intensity of the pressure on their penalty area that a Liverpool goal looked almost inevitable ultimately.

That said, it took a bit of magic to unlock the Championship side’s stubborn rearguard. Firstly, in the form of Emre Can’s pass for the equalising goal and thereafter, with Coutinho’s fine strike into the top corner.

All in all, Liverpool probably deserved the victory, especially as Bolton’s goal came via a poor refereeing decision that led to the penalty, but Neil Lennon’s men can still be proud of their efforts tonight.

Right, that’s it from me.

Thanks for reading and commenting. We’ll have more reaction to come.

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