Preview: Liverpool v BoltonSETTING THE SCENE Boasting a strong cup record against Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers travel to Merseyside on Saturday looking to emulate two of the club’s most famous nights.
Goals from Andy Walker and John McGinlay saw the Whites triumph 2-0 at Anfield the last time the two sides faced off in the FA Cup back in 1993, while a last-minute Youri Djorkaeff penalty saw Bolton triumph 3-2 in 2003 in what is the most recent cup meeting.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Neil Lennon’s side head into the tie having lost just one of their last 12 matches, however Brendan Rodgers’ men are currently on an equally impressive run themselves, boasting a similar record with just one defeat from their last 15 outings.
TEAM NEWSLee Chung-Yong (leg) will miss the trip to Anfield having been ruled out for seven-to-ten days following a scan after returning early from international duty, while Craig Davies (hamstring) has also been ruled out after suffering a recurrence of the injury that sidelined him for four matches last month.
However, manager Neil Lennon is hopeful that Zach Clough (hamstring) could feature as the young forward closes in on a first team return, having been out of action since making his debut against Wigan Athletic earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Joe Mason has returned to parent club Cardiff City while Marc Tierney (leg), Mark Davies and Max Clayton (both knee) all remain long-term absentees.
LAST LIVERPOOL XI (v Chelsea, D1-1)Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Markovic, Lucas, Henderson, Moreno, Gerrard (Lallana 70), Sterling, Coutinho.
ONE TO WATCHAlthough not guaranteed to start on Saturday ahead of Liverpool’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea next week, captain Steven Gerrard remains the Reds’ main man this season.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Having announced his decision to leave Anfield in the summer with MLS side LA Galaxy his next port of call, there is a strong desire on the red half of Merseyside for the midfielder to sign off with a trophy, adding extra spice to Saturday’s FA Cup tie.
The Reds’ saviour on numerous occasions over the years, Gerrard is currently the club’s leading goalscorer so far this season with nine goals to his name, including two in Liverpool’s third round victory over AFC Wimbledon.
LAST TIME WE WERE HERE (Liverpool 3-1 Bolton, 27 August 2011)Wanderers will be eager to avoid a repeat of their last visit to Anfield, having fallen to defeat against Liverpool.
Jordan Henderson fired Kenny Dalglish’s side ahead before two goals in the space of two second-half minutes from Martin Skrtel and Charlie Adam seemingly secured the result with less than an hour on the clock.
The Whites pulled one back late on through Ivan Klasnic, the forward beating Pepe Reina from close-range after Martin Petrov pounced on a Jamie Carragher mistake, but it was to offer little consolation on the day.
However, Bolton would get their revenge later in the campaign, winning by the same scoreline at Macron Stadium in what was one of the Trotters’ performances of the season.
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