Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by Championship side Bolton in the FA Cup fourth round at Anfield on Saturday. Here’s how the media reacted to the game and result.
Andy Hunter of The Guardian has praise for Bolton’s goalkeeper Adam Bogdan:
“Bolton’s goalkeeper was in commanding form and produced inspired saves from Philippe Coutinho and Fabio Borini, although Liverpool rarely threatened to take control of the tie until laying siege to Bogdan’s goal in the closing minutes.”
Of Liverpool’s play, Hunter comments:
“Liverpool did produce 24 shots but there was a carelessness about their play that was absent from the Capital One Cup semi-final against Chelsea.”
Jason Burt of The Telegraph notes how Liverpool should have been playing against 10-men for most of the second half when Matt Mills brought down Lazar Markovic but referee Kevin Friend failed to even give a free kick – something Brendan Rodgers was unhappy about post-match.
“Lazar Markovic, then ran onto Henderson’s raking pass, pushed the ball past Mills and went down, caught by the defender’s trailing leg,” explains Burt. “No red card. There could – should – have been one, however.”
Burt also notes the standing ovation former Red Emile Heskey received as he was substituted.
Matt Ladson, writing for Bleacher Report, notes:
“On a day of huge upsets in the FA Cup fourth round, it probably shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise that Neil Lennon’s resolute Bolton Wanderers left Anfield having forced a replay.”
“Liverpool were made to pay for their lack of prolificacy in front of goal — too often failing to convert their chances or being too cute in the final third.”
David Maddock of the Mirror was more scathing with his assessment, suggesting:
“Never can Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers have passed the ball so poorly, and even worse, so lazily. There was no urgency to the tempo of their game, and absolutely none of the fizz which typified the brilliant midweek performance against Chelsea.”
Perhaps, that’s a little over exaggerated.
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