Reds match on in FA Cup with a late come back against ten-man Trotters

Liverpool struck twice in the final four minutes to seal a dramatic late victory over a ten-man Bolton Wanderers in their FA Cup fourth round replay.

The resilient Trotters battled to a 0-0 draw at Anfield a fortnight ago, and they looked on course for a shock result in front of their own fans when Eidur Gudjohnsen put them in front from the penalty spot after a goalless first-half.

But Neil Lennon suffered an almost instant blow when his side were reduced to ten men following a second yellow card for Neil Danns

Brendan Rodgers’ side twice hit the post and stuck the bar in their search for an equaliser, and later introduced fit-again star Daniel Sturridge with time running out for the Premier Leagueside.

The Reds began to dominate in the closing stages as the Championship outfit began to tire, and their pressure eventually bore fruit with just four minutes on the clock.

Raheem Sterling first levelled with a neat volley before a wonderstrike from Philippe Coutinho – his long-range drive going in off the underside of the crossbar – completed a late, late comeback.

Liverpool face a trip to Crystal Palace in the fifth round.

It’s good news for Reds captain Steven Gerrard – starting the game for his 700th club appearance – who can still dream of that fairytale send off ahead of his summer move to the MLS, with the FA Cup final falling on his birthday.

In a cagey first-half but it was Bolton, who are unbeaten at home under Neil Lennon, who impressed most early on, limiting Liverpool’s creativity and forcing some good saves from a revitalised Simon Mignolet.

Liverpool began to up the tempo towards the break though, with Sterling hitting the post with a looping shot and Coutinho firing just wide with goalkeeper Andy Lonergan sprawling helpless across his line.

They continued to press after the re-start, Sterling forcing another brilliant save from Lonergan, but it was Bolton who drew first blood through a Gudjohnsen penalty, after Martin Skrtel was adjudged to have fouled lively youngster Zach Clough in the area.

However, less than ten minutes had passed before the Trotters suffered a blow to their chances, with Danns given his marching orders for a second bookable offence following a rash challenge on Joe Allen.

You’d have thought Liverpool would look to immediately make the most of their man advantage, but instead it was Bolton who went for the killer blow, Clough firing wide after a darting run and Gudjohnsen then wasting a great chance to finish it, heading straight at Mignolet with the goal at his mercy.

Sturridge’s 70th minute introduction seemed to lift Liverpool however, and they were twice a whisker away from a superb equaliser when Jordan Henderson first hit the post and then Emre Can saw his long-range hit tipped onto the bar by Lonergan.

Sterling and Coutinho were at the epicentre of all the visitors’ best attacks, so it was fitting therefore, they combined on  to claim the win.

A comeback looked less and less likely as the final whistle edged closer, but Sterling finally found a clinical touch when his side needed it most, sending the ball through Lonergan's legs with a sidefooted volley from Can's lobbed pass over the top.

And Bolton barely had time to catch their breath before the top flight giants snatched victory from under their feet, Coutinho drilling an unstoppable 25 yard effort into the back of the net in stoppage-time to seal the late turnaround.