The Liverpool vs Oldham Athletic FA Cup match will take place this Sunday, January 5, 2014 (7:00 AM Pacific). It will be the ultimate David versus Goliath battle as League One side Oldham Athletic travel to Anfield to face 5-time European Champions Liverpool in what could turn out to be a classic FA Cup Third Round tie.
Amazingly, this is the third consecutive year that the two teams are set to face against each other in the competition, with the two sides sharing a victory apiece in the last two editions.
Liverpool head into the clash full of confidence after some scintillating performances in the league, which has seen the Reds currently occupy one of the Champions League spots. However, Brendan Rodgers saw his side defeated by Oldham in the last edition of the tournament and the Northern Irishman will certainly know better than to take the minnows lightly this time around.
Unlike Liverpool, Oldham have endured a difficult campaign in their domestic league so far, and are currently just above the relegation places due to goal difference. Having not won any of their last six matches, manager Lee Johnson will be hoping that the FA Cup will be a welcome distraction for his side. A daunting trip to Anfield will never be an easy game, but the FA Cup is about taking your chances and the Latics will certainly be hoping to do that on Sunday.
Liverpool
Brendan Rodgers may take the opportunity to give some of his fringe players a run-out on Sunday. Goalkeeper Brad Jones looks set to start in goal while the likes of Kolo Toure, Martin Kelly and Aly Cissokho may also be handed a spot in the starting lineup.
Rodgers may opt to give Steven Gerrard a start as well, as the skipper looks to return to match fitness after recently coming back from an injury. Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas have not made much of an impact since their arrival to Anfield and the duo will be hoping to make the most of the opportunity if they are awarded a first team spot.
Talismanic striker Luis Suarez looks set to lead the line for the Reds and likes of Victor Moses and Raheem Sterling will most probably be providing support to the Uruguayan. Daniel Sturridge, Jon Flanagan and Joe Allen are all ruled out of the tie due to injury.
Oldham Athletic
With the reopening of the January transfer window, manager Lee Johnson has moved quickly to recruit three new players to the club in the form of Adam Lockwood, David Worrall and Gary Harkins. There is a possibility that the trio maybe handed a start on Sunday.
Mark Oxley will start in goal for the Latics with Connor Brown, Jonathan Grounds, Genseric Kusunga and James Tarkowski the probable back four. It will be interesting to see whether Anton Rodgers, the son of Liverpool manager Brendan, will be handed a start for the match.
Adam Rooney and Jonson Clark-Harris look set to lead the line for Oldham and with the likes of Korey Smith, David Mellor, James Dayton and Gary Harkins providing support for the pair.
Probable Lineups
Liverpool: Jones; Cissokho, Toure, Agger, Kelly; Moses, Alberto, Gerrard, Aspas, Sterling; Suarez
Oldham Athletic: Oxley; Brown, Grounds, Tarkowski, Kusunga; Smith, Mellor, Dayton, Harkins; Rooney, Clark-Harris
Form
Liverpool: W W L L W
Oldham Athletic: L L D D L
Last Meeting
27/01/2013 Oldham Ath. 3 – 2 Liverpool (F.A. Cup)
06/012/012 Liverpool 5 – 1 Oldham Ath. (F.A. Cup)
Liverpool vs Oldham Athletic Prediction
Logic suggests that there is one clear favorite for this clash. The two teams are separated by 59 places in the English footballing ladder and one team heads into the tie full of confidence while the other is seeking their first victory in over a month.
However, the FA Cup has a history of defying logic and you have to only go as far as last season for proof that anything can happen in football when the Latics overcame the mighty Reds.
A huge disadvantage for Oldham this time though, will be the fact that the clash will be held at Anfield and it would take a heroic effort from Lee Johnson’s men to even force a replay.
Liverpool should be able to win this one comfortably, bearing in mind that the Reds are in great form and that they would want to exact revenge on Oldham for last season’s humiliation. Liverpool 3 – 0 Oldham Athletic.
Liverpool vs Oldham Athletic Television
The match will be televised on LFC TV Online at 7:00 AM Pacific.
