Liverpool have booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup courtesy of a dramatic 2-1 victory against Bolton Wanderers this evening.
The Reds looked set for a shock exit having found themselves behind heading into the final five minutes at the Macron Stadium, but strikes from Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho in the dying stages helped pave the way for Brendan Rodgers's men.
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Steven Gerrard came close to making a breakthrough for the visitors on what was his 700th appearance for the club, although his side-footed shot at the end of a flowing move was well kept out by Andy Lonergan.
The deputising keeper had to be on his guard once more shortly after to this time deny Sterling's somewhat tame effort following a quick break, while Coutinho dragged a shot of his own wide from around 25 yards.
Bolton did manage to muster an opening of their own through veteran striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, who found some space inside the Liverpool box to latch on to Josh Vela's cross which he blasted well over.
There was also half a chance for David Wheater to spring a surprise and give Wanderers a first-half lead, but he could not quite get the power needed on Liam Feeney's cross to get the better of Simon Mignolet.
Sterling came closest to making the breakthrough with his curled effort towards the top corner which came back off the outside of the post, being given too much time and space by Dorian Dervite to get his shot away.
Matt Mills very nearly gave the hosts the lead when he connected well with his strike from range, which ended right down the throat of Mignolet.
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Sterling squandered what looked to be another decent opening with the first opportunity of the second half, with Dervite this time making a solid last-ditch challenge to thwart him somewhat, although the England international still got a shot away which was kept out by Lonergan.
The game's breakthrough moment came with an hour of the contest played, when youngster Zach Clough went down under minimal contact from Martin Skrtel inside the area, allowing Gudjohnsen to step up and coolly place the resulting pen down the middle.
A red card issued to Neil Danns with 25 minutes left to play made Bolton's task of holding on to their slender lead that little bit more difficult, yet it was the Championship side who should have added a second of the evening.
Shortly after Clough fired narrowly wide, Mills picked out Gudjohnsen with a fine cross which the former Barcelona and Chelsea man could only head down into the ground to the relief of Mignolet, who was waiting to collect.
It proved to be all Liverpool for the remaining 20 minutes or so of normal time, as first Jordan Henderson fired agonisingly wide and then Lonergan helped Emre Can's shot onto the frame of the goal, which came to Bolton's rescue for a third time.
Then, with just four minutes left to play and time fast running out for the Reds, Sterling latched on to Can's lofted pass and fired through the legs of Lonergan with a first-time volley to seemingly take the game into an extra 30 minutes.
However, there was still time remaining for Coutinho to strike at the death to send Liverpool through to the fifth round where Crystal Palace await, cutting inside onto his right foot and sending a dipping shot in off the underside of the bar to seal a dramatic victory.
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