Liverpool first-team coach Steve Clarke insists they have now drawn a line under the 3-1 defeat to Bolton and are ready for the Carling Cup clash with Manchester City on Wednesday night (Liverpool 13/8, City 13/8, draw 23/10 Match Prices).

The Reds lost their fifth away game of the campaign at the weekend and the manner of the defeat at the Reebok Stadium led boss Kenny Dalglish to publicly criticise his players – not normally something associated with the Scottish tactician (Liverpool 7/2  Top Four Finish).

He made it clear that a few of the stars would have to buck up their ideas or they could find themselves heading towards the Anfield exit door sooner rather than later.

They have not had too much time to regroup with the second leg of their Carling Cup last-four clash against Roberto Mancini’s men set to take place at Anfield in mid-week for the right to face Cardiff City in the final, after the Bluebirds’ penalty shoot-out victory over Crystal Palace.

There has been a lot of flak flying around at the club this week in response to Dalglish’s tirade but Clarke is adamant that everyone has now moved on and is focused on the task of reaching Wembley.

“There has been a line drawn under it as far as we are concerned,” he said. “Hopefully we’ve put it to bed.

“We have spoken about the game, we know it wasn’t a good performance, we accept that and we try to move on and improve in the future.”