League one side Oldham threatened to cause a major upset when they played Liverpool at their famous Anfield Stadium in the FA Cup third round tie. Robbie Simpson scored with a long-range shot to give the Latics a stunning 1-0 lead after 28 minutes. The goal surprised the home team and gave them a wake-up call that spurred them into action. The Reds were tied at two minutes when a Craig Bellamy deflection leveled the score. Captain Steven Gerrard scored a penalty just before half-time to give the hosts a 2-1 lead that calmed nerves.
Second-half goals from Jonjo Shelvey, Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing gave Liverpool a comfortable victory, although the final score of 5-1 flattered the home side somewhat, as the League One visitors had ensured It was an entertaining and absorbing game. Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish had made eight changes to the team that lost 3-0 at Manchester City earlier this week, but his side still had a full eight international players.
Oldham have beaten Manchester City and Everton in the FA Cup in recent years and had they shown a better finishing touch in front of goal and been a little luckier they could have doomed Liverpool to an early exit from the competition. of the Cup this season. The visitors came out of the blocks fast and could easily have scored three goals in the first twenty minutes. Oldham’s leading goalscorer Shefki Kuqi was unlucky when his shot sailed into the side of the net, while Luca Scapuzzi was well placed but shot wide and Tom Adeyemi didn’t score but headed the ball over the crossbar. Simpson finally broke the deadlock with her spectacular long-distance effort giving the visitors a deserved lead.
Oldham’s joy was short-lived when Craig Bellamy deflected Jonjo Shelvey’s shot into goal and then Gerrard scored a penalty after Maxi Rodriguez had been fouled. The visitors started the second half with the same enthusiasm as they had started the first, and threatened to tie on more than one occasion. Liverpool finally took control of the game when Shelvey scored in the 69th minute and late goals worth £35m. Andy Carroll scored his first goal at Anfield this season and Stuart Downing’s late stoppage-time goal was the first he had scored for the club, giving a deceptive semblance of the result that shouldn’t undermine Oldham’s performance in the night, which was a credit to lower league football.