Liverpool cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 5-1 win over Oldham Athletic on Friday.
Kenny Dalglish will no doubt be pleased with the performance of his players on te field, but the idiotic actions of one fan have again damaged the club's reputation.
On the field, Oldham threatened to produce a famous giant killing performance when an outstanding Robbie Simpson strike gave the Latics a 28th minute lead. That lead did not last long however, as Craig Bellamy and Steven Gerrard scored to give Liverpool a 2-1 half-time lead.
Jonjo Shelvey put Liverpool 3-1 up during the second half, before Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing struck late to put a gloss on the score line.
Oldham surprised the Anfield crowd by flying out of the blocks and created three early chances. Manchester City loanee Luca Scapuzzi fired wide when presented with a good chance, before leading goal scorer Shefki Kuqi fired into the side netting after a powerful run.
Norwich City loanee Tom Adeyemi then headed over the bar, before Simpson gave Oldham a shock lead with a wonder-strike. After being set up by James Wesolowski 30 yards out, Simpson hammered a thunderbolt strike past Pepe Reina to send the visiting fans into raptures.
The joy did not last long for Oldham, as Welsh striker Bellamy brought Liverpool level within less than two minutes. Shelvey carved out space to shoot, and Bellamy deflected the ball past Oldham keeper Alex Cisak.
Just as the teams looked to be going into half-time locked at 1-1, Maxi Rodriguez was fouled in the 18-yard area by Adeyemi, and Liverpool were awarded a penalty. Captain Gerrard stepped up to confidently convert the spot kick and give the Reds a half-time lead.
Oldham fought gamely after the restart, and had an early chance to equalize but Jean-Yves M’voto shot wide of the target.
Liverpool had a chance at the other end, but a fine tackle by Zander Diamond snuffed out Dirk Kuyt. The game became an end to end affair, with Martin Kelly having a header saved by Oldham keeper Cisak, before Adeyemi had another chance but again sent his effort over the bar.
Shelvey gave Liverpool breathing space in the 68th minute when he collected a pass from Bellamy and stroked home a finish into the bottom corner.
A late double strike put a gloss on the score line for Liverpool, with Carroll firing home from 25 yards, before Downing scored his first goal for the club deep into injury time.
The game was marred by an ugly incident 10 minutes from the end when Adeyemi reacted angrily and was visibly shaken by comments made towards him by a supporter in the Kop end.
An eyewitness stated that a fan wearing a Luis Suarez t-shirt shouted a racial insult at Adeyemi, and the incident is now being investigated by the club and police.
Oldham boss Paul Dickov defended his player in a post-match interview. “I know the kid and something has been said. (Adeyemi) is a placid boy who has been well educated and has a fantastic temperament,” Dickov told The Sun newspaper. “So for him to react like that it’s obvious that something has been said.”
The incident puts Liverpool in an interesting predicament. It is typical that if a fan is caught using racist language at a game he is banned, but if the fan’s crime is saying racist words, how is that any different to Luis Suarez?
Indeed, you may well see Liverpool spout a load of nonsense about “not letting him walk alone," and warm-up for the next game with the fan’s face on their t-shirts. The club must take action against racism soon, if the proud tradition of Liverpool Football is not to be tainted.
LINEUPS
LIV – Reina, Aurelio (Flanagan 71), Coates, Carragher, Kelly, Gerrard, Maxi, Spearing, Shelvey, Kuyt (Carroll 87), Bellamy (Downing 74).
OLD – Cisak, M’voto, Diamond, Wesolowski (Morais 74), Furnam, Adeyemi, Taylor, Lee, Simpson (Smith 74), Scapuzzi (Parker 54), Kuqi.
SCORING SUMMARY
OLD – Robbie Simpson (James Wesolowski) 28’
LIV – Craig Bellamy (Jonjo Shelvey) 30’
LIV – Steven Gerrard (penalty kick) 45+1’
LIV – Jonjo Shelvey (Craig Bellamy) 68’
LIV – Andy Carroll (Jon Flanagan) 89’
LIV – Stewart Downing (Jon Flanagan) 90+5’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Craig Bellamy (Liverpool).
Attendance: 44,556
On the field, Oldham threatened to produce a famous giant killing performance when an outstanding Robbie Simpson strike gave the Latics a 28th minute lead. That lead did not last long however, as Craig Bellamy and Steven Gerrard scored to give Liverpool a 2-1 half-time lead.
Jonjo Shelvey put Liverpool 3-1 up during the second half, before Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing struck late to put a gloss on the score line.
Oldham surprised the Anfield crowd by flying out of the blocks and created three early chances. Manchester City loanee Luca Scapuzzi fired wide when presented with a good chance, before leading goal scorer Shefki Kuqi fired into the side netting after a powerful run.
Norwich City loanee Tom Adeyemi then headed over the bar, before Simpson gave Oldham a shock lead with a wonder-strike. After being set up by James Wesolowski 30 yards out, Simpson hammered a thunderbolt strike past Pepe Reina to send the visiting fans into raptures.
The joy did not last long for Oldham, as Welsh striker Bellamy brought Liverpool level within less than two minutes. Shelvey carved out space to shoot, and Bellamy deflected the ball past Oldham keeper Alex Cisak.
Just as the teams looked to be going into half-time locked at 1-1, Maxi Rodriguez was fouled in the 18-yard area by Adeyemi, and Liverpool were awarded a penalty. Captain Gerrard stepped up to confidently convert the spot kick and give the Reds a half-time lead.
Oldham fought gamely after the restart, and had an early chance to equalize but Jean-Yves M’voto shot wide of the target.
Liverpool had a chance at the other end, but a fine tackle by Zander Diamond snuffed out Dirk Kuyt. The game became an end to end affair, with Martin Kelly having a header saved by Oldham keeper Cisak, before Adeyemi had another chance but again sent his effort over the bar.
Shelvey gave Liverpool breathing space in the 68th minute when he collected a pass from Bellamy and stroked home a finish into the bottom corner.
A late double strike put a gloss on the score line for Liverpool, with Carroll firing home from 25 yards, before Downing scored his first goal for the club deep into injury time.
The game was marred by an ugly incident 10 minutes from the end when Adeyemi reacted angrily and was visibly shaken by comments made towards him by a supporter in the Kop end.
An eyewitness stated that a fan wearing a Luis Suarez t-shirt shouted a racial insult at Adeyemi, and the incident is now being investigated by the club and police.
Oldham boss Paul Dickov defended his player in a post-match interview. “I know the kid and something has been said. (Adeyemi) is a placid boy who has been well educated and has a fantastic temperament,” Dickov told The Sun newspaper. “So for him to react like that it’s obvious that something has been said.”
The incident puts Liverpool in an interesting predicament. It is typical that if a fan is caught using racist language at a game he is banned, but if the fan’s crime is saying racist words, how is that any different to Luis Suarez?
Indeed, you may well see Liverpool spout a load of nonsense about “not letting him walk alone," and warm-up for the next game with the fan’s face on their t-shirts. The club must take action against racism soon, if the proud tradition of Liverpool Football is not to be tainted.
LINEUPS
LIV – Reina, Aurelio (Flanagan 71), Coates, Carragher, Kelly, Gerrard, Maxi, Spearing, Shelvey, Kuyt (Carroll 87), Bellamy (Downing 74).
OLD – Cisak, M’voto, Diamond, Wesolowski (Morais 74), Furnam, Adeyemi, Taylor, Lee, Simpson (Smith 74), Scapuzzi (Parker 54), Kuqi.
SCORING SUMMARY
OLD – Robbie Simpson (James Wesolowski) 28’
LIV – Craig Bellamy (Jonjo Shelvey) 30’
LIV – Steven Gerrard (penalty kick) 45+1’
LIV – Jonjo Shelvey (Craig Bellamy) 68’
LIV – Andy Carroll (Jon Flanagan) 89’
LIV – Stewart Downing (Jon Flanagan) 90+5’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Craig Bellamy (Liverpool).
Attendance: 44,556
