Oldham Athletic stun Liverpool in FA Cup
Defeat for Liverpool and Spurs took the number of Premier League casualties losing to lower division opponents in the last 32 to five following defeats for Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa.
Oldham, languishing in 19th place in League One, were irresistible in front of their own fans at Boundary Park, going ahead with a Matt Smith header in the second minute.
Fabio Borini made his first start since suffering a fractured foot in October in an attacking Liverpool side that also boasted Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Suarez, who captained the side with Gerrard on the bench. Oldham were without their own captain as Dean Furman is representing South Africa at the African Cup of Nations, so the armband was handed to Liverpool fan James Wesolowski.On a day when Chelsea had to come from behind to draw 2-2 at Brentford and Tottenham lost 2-1 to Leeds, it was left to Liverpool to uphold the honour of the Premier League. But Brendan Rodgers's expensively-assembled side found themselves a goal down within two minutes.However, they were overshadowed in the opening exchanges by superb combination play between Smith and his strike partner Robbie Simpson, who bullied Liverpool centre-backs Sebastian Coates and Martin Skrtel.They made their mark, sometimes literally, and 23-year-old Smith showed his intentions as early as the third minute with a well-taken goal.
Liverpool failed to kick on, though, and Oldham took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Keeper Brad Jones should easily have gathered a low Wabara cross but could only fumble as Smith pounced to tap in with the goal gaping.
Worse was to follow for Liverpool three minutes after the restart when Wabara met Carl Winchester’s cross with a powerful header to send the home fans delirious.Reds boss Brendan Rodgers responded by throwing on Gerrard for Andre Wisdom and Stewart Downing for forgotten man Fabio Borini, who failed to make an impression in a rare start.Norwich and QPR had all been accounted for by lower-league opposition but the third-tier Latics claimed arguably the biggest scalp of the round with a 3-2 triumph
Liverpool crashing out of the competition at Boundary Park. Premier League sides Aston Villa, Norwich and QPR had all been accounted for by lower-league opposition but the third-tier Latics claimed arguably the biggest scalp of the round with a 3-2 triumph thanks to a Matt Smith’s brace and Reece Wabara’s header. Luis Suarez had equalised for the visitors after they fell behind to... Read more...
Defeat for Liverpool and Spurs took the number of Premier League casualties losing to lower division opponents in the last 32 to five following defeats for Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa.
Oldham, languishing in 19th place in League One, were irresistible in front of their own fans at Boundary Park, going ahead with a Matt Smith header in the second minute.
Fabio Borini made his first start since suffering a fractured foot in October in an attacking Liverpool side that also boasted Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Suarez, who captained the side with Gerrard on the bench. Oldham were without their own captain as Dean Furman is representing South Africa at the African Cup of Nations, so the armband was handed to Liverpool fan James Wesolowski.On a day when Chelsea had to come from behind to draw 2-2 at Brentford and Tottenham lost 2-1 to Leeds, it was left to Liverpool to uphold the honour of the Premier League. But Brendan Rodgers's expensively-assembled side found themselves a goal down within two minutes.However, they were overshadowed in the opening exchanges by superb combination play between Smith and his strike partner Robbie Simpson, who bullied Liverpool centre-backs Sebastian Coates and Martin Skrtel.They made their mark, sometimes literally, and 23-year-old Smith showed his intentions as early as the third minute with a well-taken goal.
Liverpool failed to kick on, though, and Oldham took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Keeper Brad Jones should easily have gathered a low Wabara cross but could only fumble as Smith pounced to tap in with the goal gaping.
Worse was to follow for Liverpool three minutes after the restart when Wabara met Carl Winchester’s cross with a powerful header to send the home fans delirious.Reds boss Brendan Rodgers responded by throwing on Gerrard for Andre Wisdom and Stewart Downing for forgotten man Fabio Borini, who failed to make an impression in a rare start.Norwich and QPR had all been accounted for by lower-league opposition but the third-tier Latics claimed arguably the biggest scalp of the round with a 3-2 triumph
Liverpool crashing out of the competition at Boundary Park. Premier League sides Aston Villa, Norwich and QPR had all been accounted for by lower-league opposition but the third-tier Latics claimed arguably the biggest scalp of the round with a 3-2 triumph thanks to a Matt Smith’s brace and Reece Wabara’s header. Luis Suarez had equalised for the visitors after they fell behind to... Read more...
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