Match Preview: Liverpool FC vs. Bolton Wanderers (KO 1500hrs)

After the disappointing loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, Roy Hodgson must be somewhat glad to make amends (if that’s even possible) so soon after that home defeat.  There have been reports that this is a ‘must-win’ game for Hodgson if he has any chance of keeping his job, so the pressure will certainly be on the gaffer.

After what initially appeared to be criticism of the fans after the Wolves match, which Hodgson has put down to misinterpretation of his comments, he’s urging fans to get behind the team after the reds were booed off - their eighth league defeat of the season, leaving us lying 12^th in the table only 3 points above the relegation zone ahead of Bolton’s New Year's day visit to Anfield.  

Square pegs and round holes

A lot has been said and discussed since yesterday's painful defeat against Wolves and the manager and team have both come under a fair amount of scrutiny and backlash from the fans.  Listening to 'pundits' and phone-ins and reading various posts on blogs and forums there are still some still refusing to lay any blame at Roy's door, simply stating that he 'inherited a poor side'.  This is now a very small minority and I suspect if performances don't drastically improve it will become smaller still.

Had this defeat come early in his tenure Roy Hodgson may have been forgiven for it and the result could have been put down to him not fully knowing the team he had inherited.  However, we're now 18 games into the premier league season and we've had numerous European games so this should've been enough time to give Roy an idea of what his best starting XI are and what formation to employ to get the best out of his team.

Liverpool set to sign Sylvian Marveaux?

Sylvain Marveaux is reportedly close to a move to Liverpool after being spotted in the club's directors' box during Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.  Could the dismal display have dissuaded Marveaux from a move?  We'll have to wait and see - whether it goes through at all, whether it's a January move or a free transfer in the summer?

                                                                  Marveaux is currently side-lined

The potential signing of the player does cause some concerns among fans though - mainly his injury record.  In recent seasons he has been hampered by injuries, notably the 2008-09 French season making only 6 appearances for Rennes, but he featured more prominently in 2009-10 having made 38 appearances in total, scoring 12 goals and 5 assists.  Currently, he is out injured after aggravating a groin strain that kept him out of action at the beginning of the league campaign, so far having made 10 appearances, scoring once and getting 2 assists.

Highlights from Liverpool FC vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Goals from yesterday's game against Wolves (29/12/2010)

Liverpool FC embarrassed by Wolverhampton Wanderers

Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

It had been 18 days since Liverpool FC had last played in the Premier League thanks to the 'big freeze' - one which threw the entire sporting calendar into disarray.  Looking back now, I wish the subsequent thaw around Anfield never happened, because what it left was painful viewing - an inept Liverpool side.

Expectations were high going into the game.  Yes, the season had not been playing out as expected and the manager has been under pressure from early on in the season. But, surely a win was on the cards - we were playing a side bottom of the league, one which had the worst away record in the country having lost 7 out of 8 games, we were at home and we had our talismanic captain return. However, even Steven Gerrard couldn't rescue us tonight.

Wolves deserve credit for their win, their first in 27 years against us, as Mick McCarthy clearly had a game plan and his players executed it well.  However, our players and our manager did not help by making it so much easier for them to do so.

As team news came out before kick off, some thought the strange starting XI may mean a change in formation.  "Could Roy be trying a new 4-3-3 formation with more attacking intent?", were the thoughts  No.  Playing players out of their best positions was what the starting XI dictated.  In past games, in Gerrard's absence, Miereles and Lucas have played relatively well in midfield, possibly bringing the best out of each others games - so the logical thing would be to continue this and have Gerrard supporting Torres, which he has done extremely well in the past.  But no, the plan was to put Miereles out on the right, which he clearly isn't comfortable with, and Dirk Kuyt on the left.  That's right - Kuyt on the left.  A centre forward, who had been converted to a right sided 'winger' now playing on the left.  It all made perfect sense to Hodgson, apparently.   

Match preview: Liverpool FC vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (KO: 2000hrs)

Liverpool Football Club will observe a period of applause ahead of tonight's match with Wolverhampton Wanderers to recognise the fine career of former defender Avi Cohen, who sadly passed away aged 54.

This evening we play hosts to bottom of the table Wolverhampton Wanderers and there's an expected and welcome return for skipper Steven Gerrard after more than six weeks out with a hamstring injury picked up whilst on international duty.

Daniel Agger is also available and Fernando Torres is expected to start having been rested in our last game which was against FC Uterecht at Anfield (that game seems like an age ago).  However, Jamie Carragher and Jay Spearing are still absent with long-term injuries.

Welcome to the Live4LFC blog

Thanks for visiting the blog.  A little bit about me - I'm an Englishman and LFC fan since about the age of 9 - having grown up on legends such as Rush, Beardsley and Barnes - and follow the team with a passion.

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