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Liverpool 2-0 Oldham: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game as it happened.


Aspas stars as Liverpool progress

Much-maligned forward Iago Aspas scored his first Liverpool goal to help his club into the fourth round of the FA Cup but it was far from an easy 2-0 victory over Oldham.


The 26-year-old summer signing from Celta Vigo has endured a difficult start to his Anfield career and never looked comfortable in the Premier League.


Wearing the number nine shirt for Liverpool carries significant history and expectation considering the greats who have graced it in the past.


But Aspas was handed the responsibility of leading the line with 20-goal striker Luis Suarez rested and he eventually delivered with a decent strike 10 minutes after half-time.


James Tarkowski's late own goal, diverting in Raheem Sterling's shot, gave Liverpool the cushion they needed - especially as they were down to 10 men after Daniel Agger was forced off injured with three substitutions already made.


There was to be no fairytale repeat of Oldham's fourth-round victory over the Reds last January and Liverpool can now look forward to a trip to either Bournemouth or Burton Albion.


The accusation levelled at Liverpool is they are a one-man team - and that man was on the bench as the Reds toiled with little impact in a first half which did even less to warm the majority of the 44,102 crowd inside an icy Anfield.


Assistant manager Colin Pascoe, at Friday's pre-match press conference, suggested Suarez would have kicked either him or manager Brendan Rodgers had they suggested dropping him.


But rest him they did and the only kicking the Uruguay international did for 76 minutes was his heels on the bench.


What he saw, the first half in particular, would have frustrated him as much as everyone else.


With six changes from the New Year's Day win over Hull it was perhaps not surprising it took a while for the home side to develop any sort of control or rhythm.


Fringe players Aspas and Luis Alberto, both summer signings, were given rare starts but both failed to take their opportunity against a side 19th in League One.


Only three of the starting XI - goalkeeper Brad Jones, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling - experienced the 3-2 humbling at Boundary Park just over a year ago.


While Oldham were the aggressors on that day they arrived at Anfield with a slightly less positive game plan, initially looking to contain.


That plan worked longer that they probably hoped for as Liverpool looked toothless for 45 minutes.


Alberto had a promising half, drifting one shot wide from Victor Moses' lay-off and having another batted away by goalkeeper Mark Oxley.


Sterling was less effective, which was all the more infuriating for Liverpool considering the majority of their limited opportunities fell to him.


Steven Gerrard's position as a deep-lying midfielder denied the home side an attacking thrust going forward despite Henderson's best efforts and so the introduction of Lucas Leiva for Alberto at half-time provided a welcome release for the captain.


Immediately Liverpool seemed to find another gear, also helped by the introduction of Philippe Coutinho for the ineffective Moses, and within 10 minutes they had broken the deadlock.


Sterling finally found an end product worthy of the name and Aspas produced a finish Suarez would have been proud of, hooking home the cross right-footed.


If ever a player needed a boost it was the Spaniard, whose start to his Liverpool career has been disappointing to say the least with a lengthy lay-off with a thigh injury not helping.


It was as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and it was something of a surprise to see the previously lightweight forward jump highest in the penalty area to head Sterling's next cross against the post.


There was no time for Liverpool to rest on their laurels, however, as Danny Philliskirk fired just over from distance to serve warning a one goal lead may not be enough.


More danger was averted by Jones when Michael Petrasso swerved past Agger, who was left tracking thin air, but fired straight at the goalkeeper.


Rodgers had seen enough and replaced Gerrard with Suarez to really give Oldham something to think about.


But it was Sterling who made the final telling intervention, with his shot turned in by the unfortunate Tarkowski with eight minutes to go.


Rodgers even got the chance to enjoy the sight of his son Anton playing at Anfield, albeit for the visitors as he was given a late run out by Oldham boss Lee Johnson.

Man City V Liverpool - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Pellegrini eyes plenty more twists

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini knows the Boxing Day battle with Liverpool will be one of many rounds in a Premier League title fight which has plenty of twists and turns to come.


City remain firmly in contention following a 4-2 win at Fulham last Saturday which took them one point behind Liverpool, who in Luis Suarez have the championship's in-form striker.


Suarez's sparkling form is highlighted by his continued excellence in the absence of City's Sergio Aguero, who has a calf injury and could be out for up to eight weeks.


Pellegrini, whose side beat Arsenal 6-3 in their most recent home match, expects a fierce examination of his troops against the resurgent Reds, who won 5-0 at Tottenham in their most recent away game.


"Very difficult," Pellegrini said.


"Liverpool is a very good team and Suarez is in a very good moment.


"But I think this Premier League, we are just finishing the first half, in two more games.


"And this Premier League will not just be Liverpool and Manchester City. Five or six teams will fight until the end."


Aguero is not the only frontline City player absence - hamstring injuries for right-backs Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards mean Gael Clichy could again be asked to play on his 'wrong' flank - but Pellegrini is confident he has the strength in depth to manage.


"We have a really strong squad with real quality players, who can cope with all the matches, without our injured players and players that can't play," he added.


City have conceded five goals in two matches, leading some to question their resilience in a title battle which will likely go to the wire.


But Pellegrini is adamant the 2012 champions' approach will not change, even though opponents may adopt an ultra-cautious approach in an effort to stifle his side.


"I think they (opponents) have changed already but I think we try to solve the different problems put to our team," Pellegrini added.


"The way in football is to score goals, that is why people pay for their tickets.


"Fans are always trying to celebrate the goals of their teams.


"That is very important, I think it is the best way to win.


"As much as you can. Maybe sometimes winning 1-0 is a very good goal, and that goal is three points more.


"But if you are playing well, why would you change if you are winning by two goals?


"If you are winning by two, why don't you continue the same way?"


Joe Hart is to retain his place after making a first Premier League start in almost two months at Fulham.


Gael Clichy could continue on his 'wrong' flank at right-back due to injuries for Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards (both hamstring) or central defender Dedryck Boyata, midfielder James Milner or Aleksandar Kolarov could be drafted in.


Top scorer Sergio Aguero (calf) and defender Matija Nastasic (calf) are out and Stevan Jovetic missed the win at Fulham due to illness so could be absent once more.


Defender Glen Johnson insists Liverpool have a first-choice XI which is a match for any of their bigger-spending rivals.


The Barclays Premier League leaders face tough trips to Manchester City on Boxing Day and, three days later, Chelsea - both clubs who have far greater financial resources than the Merseysiders.


However, in addition to being top of the table, the Reds have the league's leading scorer in Luis Suarez spearheading their attack.


The Uruguay international has 10 goals in his last four matches, has failed to score in only one of his last seven appearances and since the start of last season has scored 49 goals in 57 games in all competitions and 42 in 45 league fixtures.


He requires only one to become the first Liverpool player to score 20 league goals in the top flight before the new year since Jack Balmer in 1946/47.


Liverpool also have fellow striker Daniel Sturridge and captain Steven Gerrard to come back from injury in the next month and although that will not come soon enough for the tests against their top-four rivals, Johnson is confident they will be competitive for two crucial matches.


"We take each game as it comes but if we can go to White Hart Lane and perform like we did there (winning 5-0) is no reason why we can't win these games," he told Press Association Sport.


"In terms of the starting XI I think we can compete. It is just getting it right on the day and everyone performing to the best we can.


"If we can do that we can cause anyone problems, it doesn't matter how much money they spend."


If Liverpool have a weakness it is when they have to look outside their primary first-choice side for replacements.


Young right-back Jon Flanagan is currently playing on the left of the defence because of injury to Jose Enrique and the unsuitability of loan signing Aly Cissokho while they are light in central midfield.


Johnson accepts they do not have the numbers other teams may have but believes there is a greater team spirit in their smaller unit.


"We all know we need much more than our starting XI, I think we have some great players around the squad that know that," he added.


"With some clubs anyone who is not starting may get the hump, not train well and throw their toys out a bit.


"Whereas we have got good lads and good professionals around who people realise they have to wait their turn.


"But we have been using a few different formations so it gives a few people an opportunity to play and because everyone knows they are on the verge of playing it keeps the squad tighter together rather than having the same XI every single week."


Liverpool's progress to the top has surprised many and doubts persist whether they can maintain it throughout a whole campaign.


But the last four sides to be top on Christmas Day have gone on to win the title - Liverpool were the last not to do it in 2008 when they finished runners-up to Manchester United.


The changes manager Brendan Rodgers has implemented since taking over from club icon Kenny Dalglish in the summer of 2012 have come to fruition this campaign, having shown an upturn in fortunes from January.


With many of Liverpool's rivals - City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton and now Tottenham - having changed their manager for this season Johnson feels they have a slight advantage.


"Usually when clubs get a new manager the first season is not what everyone wants. Usually it comes out more in the second seasons," he added.


"It is a transition period for a lot of teams so maybe we have the extra year on a few and the way things are going at the moment if we can keep taking things week by week I think we can be dangerous."


Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan picked up a slight hamstring problem in Saturday's victory over Cardiff and could be a doubt for the Boxing Day trip.