Liverpool v Bolton FA Cup 4th Round 17:30KO Pre-Match Talk

After our brilliant performance against Chelsea on Tuesday, we welcome Bolton to Anfield on Saturday.

I am expecting a mixed line up with some fringe players getting some game time, as well as a few youngsters, I also expect a few players to be given a rest.

Mignolet

Lovren
Skrtel
Sakho

Manquillo
Henderson (c)
Lucas
Enrique

Lallana
Ibe

Borini

Subs: Ward; Emre Can, Moreno; Rossiter; Ojo; Balotelli, Lambert.

That side is strong enough to beat Bolton and I'm confident we will do so.

It would be nice to see Rossiter come on for Lucas at some point, with one eye on the Chelsea game.

Let's keep Gerrard, Markovic and Sterling ready for Bolton.

I'm going for a 4-0 win to set us up nicely for the Second Leg of the Semi Final on Tuesday!!

 

I'd be happy with this team. I assume when you say "ready for Bolton" you mean "ready for Chelsea"?

F**k me. Are you really jizzing over a thirty yard sideways pass?  Is that the best clip of Spearing you can find in a LFC shirt  ?  If he sliced the defence open then you might have a point but he passed the ball to his team mates feet who was unmarked and positioned out wide. Sunday league players make that pass every single week.

Very average footballer and nowhere near good enough for Liverpool.

No worse than our current midfield options? He is certainly no better than Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Lucas or Can.  Allen might not be flavour of the month with us right now but he is a better player than Spearing too.

Not slagging Jay off here but he is now playing football where he should be. So he wasn't 'Very underrated' at all. If anything he was over praised because he was from Merseyside and if he was foreign he wouldn't have had anywhere near the game time he did.

This.

Jay Spearing looked good in an extremely average Liverpool side one in which we finished in 8th position in the league. He is a decent mid table player and a good championship player. No more no less. He is inferior to every midfielder we currently have in the squad, including Allen.

Yes I thought Spearing was a good player.  As I said, I didn't think he's world-class or anything, but I thought he was more than good enough to be a good squad player.  He's very good at his position, but people often overlooked the fact that he was a very good passer as well going forward.  Anyone remember that Suarez goal against Stoke in his first season?  Spearing was the one who pinged it half way across the field and put it right at Suarez's feet.  If Gerrard had done that everyone would have said "what a world-class pass" etc.  But it was only Spearing so ho-hum.  Watch the pass at the beginning:

Luis Suárez Wonderful Goal vs Stoke City Carling Cup

Spearing was very underrated.  He was definitely no worse than some of our current midfield options.

I see nothing special about that pass.

I see nothing special about that pass.

Nor me. Suarez must have had about 15 yards of space around him, Spearing couldn't miss. I see those made in Sunday league games.

I was expecting some wonder pass, I see my boys under 16's do that every week..............

Back to Jay.......good lad but not really up to standard and the assertion he is better than anyone we have in midfield now is just ludicrous.

Yes I thought Spearing was a good player.  As I said, I didn't think he's world-class or anything, but I thought he was more than good enough to be a good squad player.  He's very good at his position, but people often overlooked the fact that he was a very good passer as well going forward.  Anyone remember that Suarez goal against Stoke in his first season?  Spearing was the one who pinged it half way across the field and put it right at Suarez's feet.  If Gerrard had done that everyone would have said "what a world-class pass" etc.  But it was only Spearing so ho-hum.  Watch the pass at the beginning:

Luis Suárez Wonderful Goal vs Stoke City Carling Cup

Spearing was very underrated.  He was definitely no worse than some of our current midfield options.

Mate, I can make that pass when the player is unmarked and not running (well sometimes, my legs aren't what they used to be). I liked Spearing but to say he is any where near Allen is laughable. Allen is Lucas-lite, I think everyone will freely admit, but he is still a decent player - one who is slagged off far too readily on these forums.

Stick or twist?? Stay with the lads who have brough stability back or rest them and bring in the likes of Lovern and Balotelli.

Rumoured team, by @The_jamin who was watching at Melwood today
     
                                   Mignolet
                          Can      Skrtel   Sakho
                Johnson   Henderson Allen Enrique
                               Lallana  Coutinho
                                    Borini

Balotelli and Rossiter on the bench

Rumoured team, by @The_jamin who was watching at Melwood today
     
                                   Mignolet
                          Can      Skrtel   Sakho
                Johnson   Henderson Allen Enrique
                               Lallana  Coutinho
                                    Borini

Balotelli and Rossiter on the bench

So Can has his work cut out then!

I'm just happy to be confident going into games again!! We are on a really good run and have been putting in some really good performances lately!! Long may it continue

Rumoured team, by @The_jamin who was watching at Melwood today
     
                                   Mignolet
                          Can      Skrtel   Sakho
                Johnson   Henderson Allen Enrique
                               Lallana  Coutinho
                                    Borini

Balotelli and Rossiter on the bench

Would have liked to have seen Rossiter start but glad he's in the squad none the less.

Rossiter alongside Henderson for me. Borini up front with Lallana and Ibe behind him.

Would love to see Sheyi Ojo given a chance, got a bright future this lad.

Rossiter alongside Henderson for me. Borini up front with Lallana and Ibe behind him.

Would love to see Sheyi Ojo given a chance, got a bright future this lad.

Ibe's cup tied mate, FA and Capital One but agree on Ojo.

Feel Bolton will come out and give it their best, they have nothing to lose being the under dogs. The team should win though especially if they show the same fighting spirit, as they did against Chelsea the other night.

Want to see Rossiter in the starting 11 .

I'd really like to see us play consistently with the level of intensity we showed against Chelsea.

Rossiter alongside Henderson for me.

Want to see Rossiter in the starting 11 .

Same, but would rest Hendo and Lucas, maybe have him along side Gerrard.

Dilema for Brendan. To find a balanced team. He´ll find a way I think. I´ll be on the bus back from Prague when the game is going on so cant actively cheer on but still.. 4:1, with Spearing with consolidation for Bolton. Enjoy the game lads

Forum Clock showing 9 and a bit hours till kick off?? Am sure it is just under 12 hours from now.

I made the same mistake trying to answer Begs' question regarding streams.

I saw the clock and thought the game was at 10:50am my time.

He told me the game is at 12:30pm.

He got the time right.

I found the Channel.  It's on Fox Sports 2 for those of us over here.  12:30pm EST.

Rossiter is miles away from being ready for the first team yet IMHO. He's going to be a good player but based on his appearance earlier in the season, he's got a long way to go yet and should be used as a late sub when the game's over only.

Johnson will no doubt induce many a face palm if he is selected, but in the new formation he is probably an identikit perfect right back if he's on his game.

The future captain ought to play too. Obviously if the Melwood spy's team is right, all those boxes are ticked so we ought to win.

Rumoured team, by @The_jamin who was watching at Melwood today
     
                                   Mignolet
                          Can      Skrtel   Sakho
                Johnson   Henderson Allen Enrique
                               Lallana  Coutinho
                                    Borini

Balotelli and Rossiter on the bench

Definitely need to keep some players fresh for Chelsea. Not a bad line up. Rossiter and Balotelli, second half.

Rumoured team, by @The_jamin who was watching at Melwood today
     
                                   Mignolet
                          Can      Skrtel   Sakho
                Johnson   Henderson Allen Enrique
                               Lallana  Coutinho
                                    Borini

Balotelli and Rossiter on the bench

Boy, Lovren doesnt start even this! Would have probably started him ahead of Can and may be Lambert upfront & Borini instead of Coutinho to give him a breather. Nevertheless should have enough to beat Bolton! YNWA!! COYR!!