Liverpool Scout Report: Oldham Atheltic

Liverpool travel to League One's Oldham Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon. 

The two teams met in the third round of the same competition last year as Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool ran out 5-1 winners despite Oldham taking the lead.

Latics boss Paul Dickov will be hoping for a different result this time as they aim to reach the fifth round for the first time in 19 years and produce a giant killing in the process.

Oldham secured an impressive 3-2 victory away at Championship side Nottingham Forrest in the third round whilst Liverpool beat Mansfield Town in order to set up the tie.

Sunday's game will be the fifth time the two teams have met in the FA Cup and the Reds have won on every occasion.

Paul Dickov's men endured a dispointing 1-0 defeat to Notts County last weekend whilst Liverpool hammered Norwich 5-0 as confidence continues to grow on Merseyside.

Oldham's league form has left Dickov under pressure as one point from their last eight games leaves the Latics in 19th position and just four points above the relegation zone.

In contrast, Liverpool boss Brendan Rogers has relieved much of the early season pressure by guiding Liverpool to seventh in the Premier League and have scored 17 goals in their last six matches.

Team News

Rogers is widely expected to rotate his squad against Oldham with an eye on Wednesday's Premier League visit to Arsenal.

James Wesolowski could start for Oldham as the midfielder returns from suspension. The midfielder missed the defeat to Notts County and will be keen to feature against last year's losing finalists.

Captain Dean Furman is away on international duty with South Africa at the Africa Cup of Nations and will be absent from the match.

Midfield Cristian Montano missed the game against Notts County with a thigh injury and is set to miss out once more.

Matt Derbyshire scored six goals in 20 appearances whilst on loan with Oldham but the Nottingham Forrest striker has decided not to extend his stay at Boundary Park and has instead joined Blackpool. 

Key Players

Oldam's main goal threat is likely to come from former Everton starlet Jose Baxter. Baxter, who was dubbed "the next Wayne Rooney," is the Latics' leading goal scorer with 11 so far.

Baxter has impressed for struggling Oldham as he aims to regain his fitness and prove many wrong by working his way back to the top.

The odds are stacked against Oldham as the FA Cup is competition in which Liverpool have enjoyed huge success.

Brendan Rogers will no doubt hope to emulate Dalglish and take Liverpool to the FA Cup final where he will hope to take them one step further and win the competition.