Aldridge and more: Liverpool legends praise Can’s performance

Rob Jones reserved special praise for Liverpool star Emre Can after the Reds were 2-1 winners against 10-man Bolton Wanderers and booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round.

Brendan Rodgers’ men appeared to be heading out of the competition after 58 minutes when Eidur Gudjohnsen dispatched a spot-kick following Martin Skrtel’s foul on Zach Clough.

Bolton midfielder Neil Danns was dismissed for a second bookable offence, freeing up Can to push forward, and the German created Raheem Sterling’s 85th-minute equaliser at Macron Stadium.

The 21-year-old delivered an inch-perfect cross which Sterling tucked past goalkeeper Andy Lonergan before Philippe Coutinho netted a long-range winner in 91st minute of added time.

Former Liverpool defender Jones, who won the FA Cup in 1992 with the Merseyside club, was encouraged by Can’s performance in the fourth-round replay.

Emre Can has been great tonight …. Getting better every game #LFC

— Rob Jones (@RobjonesLFC2) February 4, 2015

Jones, who also won the League Cup in 1995, wasn’t the only ex-Liverpool player to pick out Can for particular praise following the dramatic win.

Former Reds striker John Aldridge tipped the former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder to become a key player for Rodgers over the next couple of years.

Can gets better every time I see him.Could be a big player in the future for us.Proper football brain too!!coutinho deserved that goal!

— John Aldridge (@Realaldo474) February 4, 2015

Finally, capping off a night of plaudits for the German, Can’s former critic Jan Aage Fjortoft is impressed by the midfielder-come-defender’s transformation.

Yes! Can didn't convince me that he was a great midfielder in Germany Yes! Done well as centre half Yes! Happy he is doing well

— Jan Aage Fjortoft (@JanAageFjortoft) February 4, 2015