The Liverpool vs Oldham Athletic FA Cup match will take place Sunday, January 5, 2014. 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.
So let’s look at the teams for todays clash
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
My Prediction?
Liverpool should be able to win this one very comfortably, keeping in mind that the Reds are in great form and that they want to exact revenge on Oldham for last season’s humiliation. An easy Liverpool 3 – 0 Oldham Athletic.
Written by Steve Milne – What are your predicions for the match – Have your say below 🙂
