Celtic are in the FA Trophy on Saturday November 13 (3pm) when they travel to Liverpool to face Bootle FC. Bootle are currently ninth in the Northern Premier League Division One West on twenty-one points. 

Bootle have played 14 league games this season, winning seven and losing seven. At home they have won four and lost three.

Their most recent match saw them lose 2-1 at home to Glossop North End. Their last home win was the previous one when they beat Prescot Cables 3-0, whilst their last win was their last away game when they beat Colne 2-0. Their best away win this season was a 5-0 away over 1874 Northwich whilst their best home win saw them beat Ramsbottom by the same scoreline. Their worst defeat was away to Clitheroe when they lost 7-1.

Bootle may not have drawn in the league, but they have drawn in the Trophy, with their previous two rounds both finishing 1-1 and going to penalties. In the second qualifying round, they beat Trafford away on penalties, whilst in the third qualifying round, they beat Widnes at home on penalties. 

In the FA Cup, Bootle beat neighbours AFC Liverpool away 3-2 in their first round, but they went out at the hands of FC United, having pushed FC United to a replay after a 2-2 draw in Bootle, they eventually lost to two goals in stoppage time from FC United.

Bottle’s top scorer this season is Ben Hodkinson with fourteen goals, nine more than his closest rival Jack McGowan on five. Hodkinson has scored nearly twice as many away from home as he has at home, with five in Bootle and nine away and he is the league’s top scorer. Bootle have scored in every match this season with fifteen different scorers. 

Defensively, they have kept six clean sheets in total, with two at home. They are the league’s top scorers, though only four teams have conceded more than Bootle this season.

In the past thirty years, we have met Bootle just the once, in 1993 in the FA Cup, when they held us to a 2-2 draw at home, before we went to their old ground and beat them 3-1.

In Bootle’s last match, the 2-1 away defeat to Glossop North End, Bootle lined up as:
1. Ryan Jones
2. James Cooper
3. Michael Carberry
4. Will Bell
5. Jay McCarten
6. Jordan Wynne
7. Henri Ogunby
8. Liam Loughlin
9. Tom Peterson
10. Declan McLoughlin
11. Ben Hodkinson

Celtic’s last match was the 2-2 home draw with Witton Albion, in which we lined up as:
1. Will Huffer
2. Josh Dawodu
3. Ashley Smith-Brown
4. Sam Wedgbury
5. Connor O’Grady
6. Keenan Quansah
7. Jake Burton
8. Charley Doyle
9. Marcus Dackers
10. Stephen Brogan
11. Justin Johnson

Celtic cannot take Bootle lightly with their scoring record this season. It is a winnable game, though, if Celtic play to their ability. Hopefully, some of Celtic’s injuries may be easing by the time Saturday comes.