Phillipe Coutinho scored a spectacular 92nd minute winner as Liverpool reached the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at Bolton. The midfielder, who signed a bumper deal to keep him at Anfield until 2020, scored a 25 yard strike that Wanderers’ goalkeeper Andy Lonergan could do nothing about. Raheem Sterling cancelled out Eidur Gudjohnsen’s second-half penalty in the 86th minute before the Brazilian playmaker won it in injury-time.
Brendan Rodgers rested midfield duo Lucas Leiva and Jordan Henderson, allowing Joe Allen and Steven Gerrard to deputise in the central of midfield in their absence, with the latter making his 700th appearance for his boyhood club. He becomes only the third player in Liverpool’s history to play over 700 games, joining Ian Callaghan and Jamie Carragher in the prestigious group. The decision to play Allen and Gerrard, in theory anyway, looked a smart one from Rodgers as Liverpool dominated proceedings early on against a Bolton side missing key figures.
Adam Bogdan, the Hungarian hero at Anfield, was out injured joining former Liverpool players Jay Spearing and Emile Heskey on the sidelines. This meant that central defender Matt Mills had to bizarrely lead the line alongside Gudjohnsen.
It was the Liverpool captain Gerrard that first tested Lonergan in what was to be a busy night for the Bolton shot-stopper. Gerrard got on the end of some good play between Coutinho and Adam Lallana but he could only stroke it into Lonergan’s arms. Sterling was next to test him, as he shot forced Lonergan into a full-stretched save and the goalkeeper did well to retrieve the rebound moments before Lallana look set to pounce on it. Shortly after, Sterling, 20, beat Lonergan but could not beat the frame of the goal as his curling effort smashed against the post.
Chances were few and far between for Bolton, but David Wheater felt he could’ve done better with his header, which went straight into Simon Mignolet’s arms. The change of momentum took a dramatic twist on the hour mark as the hosts were awarded a penalty against the run of play. Zach Clough burst past Skrtel and the slightest of touches from the Slovakian defender caused the midfielder to fling himself to the ground as referee Roger East awarded a very controversial penalty.
Gudjohnsen rolled back the years, and rolled the ball past Mignolet to give Bolton the breakthough and 150 minutes of football between these sides. This goal forced Rodgers to call on the cavalry. Vice-Captain Henderson and former Bolton loanee Daniel Sturridge were thrown into the action to try and turn the tie back in the Reds favour.
Bolton were now clinging onto their lead, and the task of defending it was made even more difficult when Wanderers midfielder Neil Danns, a Liverpool fan off the pitch, was shown a second yellow for a clumsy foul on Allen. This would’ve been forgotten if Gudjohnsen didn’t waste a glorious opportunity shortly after. Another long ball towards the back post caused problems for the Liverpool defence and the Iceland international again headed straight at Mignolet with the goal at his mercy.
This miss was yet another turning point in a dramatic tie. Liverpool were now attacking Bolton’s goal with six players and Henderson thought he had levelled it. His snapshot from 20 yards out took a wicked deflection off defender Wheater, but yet again in smashed into the upright.
It was beginning to feel like it was just not Liverpool’s day. That theory was further exploited when Lonergan had to be at his brilliant best to deny Emre Can as his shot, destined for the top corner, was tipped onto the crossbar, as Reds fans were starting to think it was 2012 all over again.
However, Can produced a moment of brilliance that Liverpool needed. The defender chipped the ball over Wheater which allowed Sterling to get on the end of it to stroke it through the legs of Lonergan to bring the scores level.
Source: http://liverpoolfc.com/
It was then left for Coutinho, who was sensational for the visitors, to cut in off the right flank and fire a dipping strike over Lonergan and in off the crossbar. It does not get any easier for Liverpool, who now travel to Crystal Palace in the fifth round. Selhurst Park has not been a happy hunting ground for Liverpool as of late. They have conceded three goals in the last two visits to the Capital. However, Liverpool will hope to continue their love affair with the FA Cup on 14 February.
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