Liverpool Face Replay After Drawing With The Wanderers

Before we get into the meat of this, I would like to say I appreciate Fox Sports broadcast of this FA Cup match.  Most matches, you don't get to hear the crowd at Anfield sing You'll Never Walk Alone in full voice beforehand, but Fox allows the time before to hear the pageantry.  Unless you're just a die hard rival of Liverpool, you have to get taken in by the entire stadium singing.  Now then, on to the match.

Brendan Rodgers, again, proved that he's the manager and he'll make the decisions without the question of what others may think.  While some may have advocated the inclusion of an actual striker or perhaps even a true center back, Rodgers went his own way.  Even if you still want Sterling in the starting XI, you could argue that he should have played back in Coutinho or Lallana's spot.  A spot Sterling will likely have to get used to once Daniel Sturridge finally returns.  However, Rodgers' maligned favorites returned.

Glen Johnson, who has little if any fans left, got the start at right back.  Emre Can moved to center, Sakho stayed on the left.  Jose Enrique played at the wing along with Javier Manquillo.  Not exactly the stuff of defensive legends and they looked equally shaky to begin the match.  Liverpool would eventually take control about ten minutes in and keep control for much of the first half, but it was a first half performance that further proved this is a club that must look for more/better depth for future seasons.  Joe Allen does what Allen does, which is disappear.  The defensive three plus the wingbacks were decent enough for a match against Bolton, but if/when the competitions take on more meaning in the future years those pairings may not work.

Despite a very talented attacking three of Sterling, Lallana and Coutinho, the team lacked that decisive pass from the midfield or shot from the attackers.  Lots of balls thrown forward with possession, but nothing from it once they were 18 yards from goal in the first half.  Though they were clearly the more skilled side, Liverpool were actually lucky to be even at the half.  Bolton, quite frankly, should have made the Reds pay about 13 minutes before the half.  And absolute strike from Dean Moxey just outside the box skimmed barely wide.  Mingolet was fortunate not to give the ball away right before halftime as well since he was a bit too adventurous out of his area.

Lazar Markovic checked in right at the beginning of the half, looking to spark the team.  He almost did, but the Wanderers got away with a trip at the back on Markovic which would have allowed him a clear chance at goal.  The foul was not given, but Liverpool had a small bit of justice done in return when Bolton air mailed their own free kick just moments after.  The match went back and forth for the center portions of the second half.  Liverpool forced a fine save only to see Bolton smash a chance wide that should have been put on target, just into the 60th minute and again by Gudjohnson in the 65th, this time whacked over.

The Reds just couldn't find that final ball from either a shot or pass to really put the match away.  In the 66th minute, Sterling passed to Lallana instead of shooting.  Slightly odd subs came on with the offensively challenged Lucas entering and Fabio Borini for Manquillo.  But who moved to wing back?  Sterling?  It looked like it for a time.  The Reds still managed to create good chances, but it really was a disjointed effort with the players on the pitch in odd positions.  Borini was stopped by another great save in 70th minute and then Lucas actually got one on target in the dying moments, only to be parried away by the keeper.

Liverpool maintained a decent amount of possession.  They kept their cool in a match where their EPL counterparts were falling by the wayside.  They did have opportunities to score and they did what they needed to do defensively.  By no means though, did they play a good game.  Even the broadcasters said this squad reminded them more of the disjointed play of the Liverpool side seen back in November and prior.  The back three as well as the wing backs did their job, but they looked shaky all game in doing so.

Can is a fine player, one who many hope will stay in a Liverpool shirt for years to come.  However, he is not a center back.  He can be utilized on the side of a back three, but having a player with huge defensive vulnerabilities and little, if any, aerial prowess in the middle of your defense is quite frightening.  Allen is...well Allen.  Jose Enrique is a decent player and qualified to start for lower level clubs but though he gives his best, it just isn't good enough on a regular basis.  Jordan Henderson is another fine player, but he is quite inconsistent on the ball.

This was another match that makes you scratch your head.  Liverpool can earn, and I do mean earn, a draw with Chelsea and then draw against Bolton and make it feel like a poor result.  Given the context of many big clubs falling in the 4th round of the FA Cup, one can hang their hat on the idea that Liverpool is at least still alive.  But you can also ask yourself if you would rather have lost.  It goes against the very fiber of most fans, including myself.  However, if you look at the cold hard facts does another match really benefit Liverpool at all even if they win?

The Reds have a difficult match with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge three days after this match.  They have winnable, but important league matches to start off February and then begin their trek in the Europa League as well in February.  Another 90 minutes of football on the legs isn't exactly beneficial to Liverpool's aims for the rest of the year.  It is what it is though and the Reds have to find a way to deal with it.  It is not something they anticipated, but with Chelsea and Manchester City out of the competition, perhaps the FA Cup can now join the Capital One Cup as a competition Liverpool can realistically set their sights on this season.

As previously mentioned, this match further proved just how much Liverpool needs to invest in more depth.  I've gone on and on about the talent and potential within this team, but they just don't have enough talent to dominate teams the way a club of their stature should in these sorts of games.  Yes, money has been spent but now the difficult decisions need to be made.  Players need to be sold and replaced and solid, proven talent needs to be brought in to plug some of the gaps.  This will surely not happen in January, but BR and the back room staff had better have a solid plan heading into the summer transfer window to keep this team on the uptick.  Plenty of season left and silverware still on the table, but this was a relatively disappointing performance even if it did not eliminate the club.  Walk on.

Random thoughts:

- I know I am in the minority, but I sincerely hope that Mario Balotelli does have a reported infection.  Yes, they play a completely different position but the idea of Glen Johnson in the lineup and Balotelli not even a reserve puts quite a pit in my stomach.

- Eric Wynalda went down a few pegs in my book.  After the match he said he watched the last 20 minutes without his glasses because Liverpool were so boring.  The man is entitled to his opinion - and I did bag on the team in this blog - however boring seems a bit excessive.  They had chances.  Just don't have the offensive power to put them home.

- Funny how the entire ESPN FC staff was ripping on the FA Cup matchups being so bland and predictable.  How'd that workout?  Liverpool and Manchester United have replays and Chelsea and Man City are out.  FA Cup might not be quite what it was, but the little teams still give their all.

- I'm pretty sure the broadcasters kept inquiring as to why Rickie Lambert wasn't coming in the match.  The answer:  Liverpool had already made all their subs.  Being a broadcaster, it is easy to forget things but for both of them to forget and nobody in the stadium to tell them is slightly comical.