Anfield wallowed in Chelsea’s “disgrace” along with the majority while conscious that what might be good for Liverpool’s FA Cup prospects may have an adverse effect in the Capital One Cup. The trade-off does not concern Brendan Rodgers.
Liverpool’s manager caught a glimpse of José Mourinho on TV following his own frustrating but far less consequential fourth-round tie against lower league opposition. Bolton Wanderers, as well-drilled and resolute as a Neil Lennon team is expected to be, merited a replay for stifling their Premier League hosts and for the goalkeeper Adam Bogdan’s excellence when Liverpool did break through. The replay slipped down Rodgers’ list of priorities as soon as he caught sight of Mourinho, however.
The Chelsea manager claimed at Anfield last week a quadruple was too difficult while his goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, insisted the Premier League leaders posses the squad to pull it off. Liverpool will have reduced Chelsea’s trophy target by 50% within three days should they follow Bradford City’s example and triumph at Stamford Bridge in Tuesday’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg. They are braced for a reaction.
“I saw José’s interview just briefly,” said Rodgers after Saturday’s stalemate. “I couldn’t hear what he was saying but I could see in his face that he wasn’t happy. Games like that, he prides himself on – lower-level opposition, especially at home and being 2-0 up. He will be shocked at that. He will want a response. But I don’t think it makes things harder for us. “We go there with no fear. We go there after the performance we had against them and they will know it is going to be a proper game against a team that is a real threat going forward. The big key for us is the speed in the team. The mobility and movement in the team is at a high level.”
Against their Championship visitors in the FA Cup, Liverpool lacked the fluency that characterised their impressive first-leg display against Mourinho’s team. Raheem Sterling, while the most consistent outlet once again, was guilty of over-elaboration inside the Bolton area and Philippe Coutinho, Javier Manquillo and the substitute Fabio Borini could not find the required finish to beat Bogdan. Their performance cried out for a clinical striker and both fortunately and belatedly, Daniel Sturridge could feature for the first time since August, on Tuesday. If not, he will be available for Saturday’s league game against West Ham United.
“This is a big game but we have to be realistic, we have to be careful,” Rodgers said. “We have shown without him in the last seven, eight weeks that the team is at a good level. If he feels fresh and he feels right to be involved in some part, then we will maybe look at it. But it is a big risk.”
Bolton contained Liverpool well until a late onslaught threatened to ruin their replay hopes but with Liam Feeney direct on the right and Neil Danns assured in central midfield, they had chances too. Eidur Gudjohnsen, at 36 the junior partner in attack alongside Emile Heskey, missed two presentable openings on the counter-attack and Lennon admits his team must resist temptation to open up too much on home soil. “I think we have a chance,” said the Bolton manager. “I think the replay will be similar to this one, Liverpool will probably have the lion’s share of possession and chances again and we just have to stay in it, and we may get more chances at home.”
Man of the match Adam Bogdan (Bolton Wanderers)
