Brendan Rodgers feels that Liverpool have maintained their momentum after beating Bolton Wanderers 2-1 away in the FA Cup this evening.

Liverpool, as expected, dominated possession from the off, but could not find a way through the Bolton defence, while the Trotters looked dangerous on the break.




And in the second half it would be Bolton who would take the lead after Martin Skrtel felled Zach Clough and Eidur Gudjohnsen fired the ball home from the penalty spot on the hour mark.

 


But spirits were soon dampened for the home side after Bolton had Neil Danns sent off for a second bookable offence just six minutes later and were instantly under siege.

They could not survive and four minutes from time, Emre Can chipped a well-placed pace to Raheem Sterling, who fired Liverpool level.

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Then in injury time, Philippe Coutinho made room outside the box and curled the ball into the back of the net, sending Liverpool through as 2-1 winners.

For Rodgers, the match was always going to be a difficult one, as he rates Bolton boss Neil Lennon, and he is delighted that the Reds have progressed to a meeting in the next round with Crystal Palace.

"It was always going to be a tough game. Neil Lennon has done a brilliant job since he's come into here and made the team very difficult to beat", Rodgers told the BBC.

"We had a lot of chances after they got the penalty, which was nowhere near a penalty, and I think the players again showed the character and the spirit that's within the team.

"We had a lot of attackers on and in the end their quality came through.

"I'm delighted. A tough game over two legs, but thankfully we're through."

And Rodgers believes victory was essential to keep Liverpool on an upwards curve.

"Our momentum is still going. Over the last eight weeks the character of the team and the consistency of the team has really gone up another level.

"We want to keep it going. This is a competition we want to do well in."

 


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