After missing out on a League Cup final berth, the Reds have another chance of reaching Wembley but they must overcome Bolton Wanderers in their fourth-round replay

Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool will be doing all they can to reach the FA Cup final after narrowly missing out on an appearance at Wembley in the League Cup.

The Merseyside outfit are preparing to face Bolton in an FA Cup fourth-round replay at the Macron Stadium on Wednesday – a week on from their painful 2-1 aggregate reverse to Chelsea in the League Cup semi-finals.

That defeat represents Liverpool’s only loss in 12 matches in all competitions and Rodgers is backing his players to make a charge towards the FA Cup final.

“Obviously after that game [against Chelsea], there’s a feeling that maybe it would disrupt or provoke a negative reaction to our season,” Rodgers told reporters.

“But if anything, it’s only promoted the development and the momentum that we have. Of course we wanted to get through to the final. But the performance level over the two games and leading into those games has given us great encouragement that our best football is yet to come.”

Rodgers, who has helped to reverse Liverpool’s form this term despite the 0-0 draw at home to Bolton on January 24, added: “There are still good teams in it [the FA Cup]. As I said, it only counts if we get through ourselves.

“So for us it’s looking at the Bolton game and it being a tough game but for sure you get through each game and it optimises your chances of getting through to the final.

“We’re in two competitions now [the FA Cup and the Europa League]. Two cup competitions and we want to go as far as we possibly can in them.

“That will be reflective in our teams and in our drive and desire to get through in the competition.”

As the matches begin to come thick and fast for the Reds, their manager has expressed trust in his side ahead of their FA Cup replay against the Lancashire outfit

Brendan Rodgers trusts his Liverpool squad to cope with a hectic fixture list and overcome Bolton Wanderers in Wednesday’s FA Cup fourth-round replay.

Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw at Anfield in the first encounter between the two teams, meaning the sides will go at it again at the Macron Stadium.

The replay comes during a congested run of matches for Liverpool, with Premier League games against Everton and Tottenham to follow before they resume their European duties in the Europa League against Besiktas on February 19.

If Liverpool get past Bolton they will also travel to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fifth round before the Besiktas fixture.

Rather than become concerned by fatigue, manager Rodgers insists his players can contend with the busy schedule.

“When you have so many games, you have to plan forward,” he said.

“But I’ll pick a team to win the game. I have a squad I trust and believe in.”

Departing captain Steven Gerrard – who will move to La Galaxy at the end of the season after a 26-year association with the club – will make his 700th Liverpool appearance should he play a part.

Rodgers paid tribute to his skipper and stated that he is unsure if a player can match Gerrard’s feat in the future.

“It’s a remarkable achievement,” he added. “I’m not sure it will happen again.”

Liverpool head into the fixture buoyed by a well-deserved 2-0 victory over West Ham at the weekend.

That match that saw Daniel Sturridge come off the substitute’s bench to score on his return after being sidelined since August with thigh and calf injuries.

Rodgers believes the striker lifts the performance levels of other players in the team, but the Northern Irishman suggested Sturridge is still not ready to start.

In Bolton, Liverpool face a stern challenge with the Championship club having lost just twice since a 2-1 reverse at Norwich City on October 31.

For manager Neil Lennon – whose side have veteran and former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey among their ranks – the match represents a chance to knock out a team he followed in his youth.

“I followed Kenny Dalglish at Celtic and then at Liverpool,” he said. 

“Watching Liverpool in Europe had a huge impact on me as a young boy. They were the dominant team in England and Europe as well.”

The former Inter midfielder registered two assists against West Ham and his manager believes the Reds’ 3-4-3 formation is bringing the best out of the Brazilian

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers singled out Philippe Coutinho for praise after the midfielder produced another impressive display in Saturday’s win over West Ham.

Brazilian playmaker Coutinho showed great vision to set up goals for Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge in a 2-0 Premier League triumph at Anfield.

While Liverpool have failed to hit the heights of last season in this campaign, Coutinho has been a standout performer and his contribution has not gone unnoticed by Rodgers.

He told the club’s official website: “He has been at a really top level of performance over the last couple of months.

“His pass for the first goal was sublime; he was half looking the other way and lifts it over the defender. He has got a lovely weight of pass.

“He needs players to run beyond and that was our problem at the beginning of the season, we had no penetration. We have moved it and put Raheem through the middle, and for guys like Phil it has a knock-on effect – he can then play passes through.

“Offensively we were very good, but very compact and defensively solid against a good side.”

The win saw Liverpool move above West Ham into seventh, four points off the top four.