Adam Lallana has ambitions of playing at Wembley this season in the FA Cup final…
Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana is desperate to go all the way to Wembley in the FA Cup this season, and knows that a difficult road to the competition’s final begins tonight with the replay against Bolton.
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The Reds will be attempting to avoid joining a list of cup shock victims from the fourth round, which already includes Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
Neil Lennon’s side put in a determined performance in the first game at Anfield, with Wanderers goalkeeper Adam Bogdan particularly impressive, and Lallana knows that they will not go down without a fight.
Lallana admitted that the Reds are still stinging from their League Cup defeat – which saw them exit the competition at the semi-final stage at the hands of Chelsea – while they see the FA Cup as the perfect platform to respond.
He told Liverpool’s official website: “We’ve said we want to win a trophy this year and we’re disappointed not to have got to Wembley in the Capital One Cup. So it’s extra incentive for us to go far.
“Every kid dreams of going to Wembley and lifting the FA Cup, but you’ve got to do the hard yards to get there. It’s going to be another tough game and obstacle in front of us in Bolton.
“They made it difficult for us and had a lot of men behind the ball. Maybe we weren’t clinical enough. Having [Daniel] Sturridge back is a huge bonus, because that’s where he’s at his best – in and around the box.
“In games where it’s tight, you always look to him to poach the goal or get the finish. In the last few games, the Chelsea game comes to mind, we have had a lot of chances but just not been clinical enough.
“Maybe the ‘keeper has had a good game, but we have got high standards and when we’re in those areas, more often than not we want to turn them into goals.
“They are experienced. Emile Heskey and [Eidur] Gudjohnsen have been around the block, and caused us a few problems, especially on the break in the first half.
“The manager adjusted that at half-time I remember, but it might be a different game going to their place; they might come at us a little bit more, which might make the game a little bit different. But we’re still going to show them the respect they deserve. We know it’s going to be a tough game.”
If we progress to the fifth round tonight, we face another difficult test with a trip to Crystal Palace. Brendan Rodgers’ side have struggled at Selhurst Park in recent seasons, but will be optimistic of reaching the quarter-finals.