REDS AHEAD AFTER GERRARD PEN

.

HALFTIME

LIVERPOOL 2, LATICS 1

8.49pm
Half-time. What a body-blow for Latics who have been excellent from the word go. Big, big call from Swarbrick. Athletic fans salute Dickov's players before roundly booing the referee as they exit for the interval.

8.46pm
Penalty for Liverpool - Adeyemi is adjudged to have shoved Maxi in the penalty area. Gerrard steps up and converts, via the upright.

That looked a harsh decision by referee Neil Swarbrick.

8.45pm Simpson wins a free-kick after a barge from Aurelio. After dusting himself down he aims the set-piece at Mvoto but he and keeper Reina both miss the ball and it goes out for a goal-kick.

8.41pm
Let off. Cisak's clearance is charged down by Maxi and the ball loops towards Bellamy, but the Welshman's header is gratefully received by Cisak. Blushes spared.

8.38pm Kuyt's beautiful pass over the top is just too heavy for Bellamy, who would have had a clear run on goal. If Latics were offered the half-time whistle now they would snap your hand off!

A few punted clearances suggest a breather would be welcome.

8.35pm

What a save. Kuyt squares to Maxi, whose powerful drive from the penalty spot is clawed away by Cisak. Shelvey looks set to convert the rebound but slips at the crucial moment. Let-off for the visitors.Liverpool are warming to the task.

8.33pm

Frantic stuff here now. Furman finds Taylor in the box and he is about to pull the trigger only for Carragher to intervene at the last second.

8.31pm

The lead lasts all of 60 seconds. Bellamy inadvertently defletcs Shelvey's long-range effort past a despairing Cisak into the net. LIVERPOOL 1, LATICS 1

8.30pm

HYSTERIA. Robbie Simpson turns and smashes home from the edge of the box. Liverpool 0, Latics 1!!!

8.28pm

We've gone past the halfway point of the first period. Pinch yourself - scoreline reads Liverpool 0, Oldham 0 and Paul Dickov'e men have had the better chances.

8.24pm

Crunching takle from Mvoto denies Kelly a clear route to goal. Athletic counter and Simpson's clever pass feeds Taylor, who prods wide from 10 yards out.

 
8.19pm
Momentary break in play as blood pours from the nose of Wesolowski after an accidental clash with team-mate Diamond. He is alright though and we are back under way as the tough-tackling midfielder returns to the fold.

8.16pm
Best chance of the game, and it falls to Latics. Simpson's corner from the right finds a totally unmarked Adeyemi. His header drops agonisingly wide of the post. So, so close to breaking the deadlock. The Liverpool fans urge their ch

arges to wake up.
8.14pm
Good response from the home side. Gerrard feeds Bellamy, who curls over from 30 yards out. Ambitious effort but he's scored from there before.

8.11pm
What a chance. Kuqi bundles Coates off the ball and barges his way into the box. The pass to Simpson was on but the Finn decided to go it alone and blasted the ball into the side-netting. Read this carefully - Athletic. Are. On. Top.

8.06pm
Great stuff from Latics. Simpson whips in a super cross from the left which Reina beat Shefki Kuqi to - by a whisker.

Straight up the other end the hosts create their first chance, with Kuyt heading Bellamy's cross wide of the post in front of several thousand very relieved Latics followers.
8.04pm Bright start from Dickov's boys - Tom Adeyemi's free-kick is bundled away from a lurking Luca Scapuzzi for a corner in front of the Kop.

Robbie Simpson's delivery is well cleared by Jamie Carragher.

7.57pm
Blue and white balloons and ticker tape emerge as 'You'll Never Walk Alone' strikes up.

Regardless of the outcome, the 6,000-plus Latics fans on their feet will never forget this night. Latics are playing in their change strip of all black.

7.56pm

HERE THEY COME!

7.45pm

We understand there is going to be a three-minute applause before kick-off in memory of Gary Ablett, the former Liverpool defender, who passed away on New Year's Day at the age of 46.
7.42pm This is Gerrard's first start since the 1-1 home draw with Norwich City on October 22. He will be looking to shake the dust off his boots tonight!

Interestingly, the picture of skipper Gerrard on the official club programme is the same image your Oldham Evening Chronicle used on today's front page!

7.35pm Latics fans are already in good voice as Athletic players warm up in front of them. The atmosphere is sure to reach fever pitch come kick-off time!

7.33pm
The standout team news is Paul Black's demotion to the bench. If Athletic boss Paul Dickov sticks to a back-four, it will probably consist of Kieran Lee at left-back, Tom Adeyemi on the right, with Jean Yves Mvoto and Zander Diamond in the centre.

That leaves skipper Dean Furman and James Wesolowski in the engine room, with Robbie Simpson, Chris Taylor and Luca Scapuzzi supporting targetman Shefki Kuqi.


As for the hosts, birthday boy Andy Carroll - who needs a goal even more than I need a brew - has to make do with a place on the bench, but all eyes will be on Steven Gerrard - Wesolowski and Furman will relish a midfield scrap with their hero.

7.25pm

Greetings from Anfield! The eagerly-anticipated FA Cup third round clash between Liverpool and Athletic is upon us, and here is the Latics team looking to secure their place in club folklore...


Alex Cisak, Jean Yves Mvoto, James Wesolowski, Zander Diamond, Dean Furman, Robbie Simpson, Tom Adeyemi, Chris Taylor, Kieran Lee, Luca Scapuzzi, Shefki Kuqi.
Subs: Dean Bouzanis, Matt Smith, James Tarkowski, Paul Black, Josh Parker, Andreas Mancini, Filipe Morais.


And as for Liverpool, well Dean Furman's wish has been granted -Reds skipper Steven Gerrard starts.

Liverpool: Pepe Reina, Sebastian Coates, Jamie Carragher, Martin Kelly, Fabio Aurelio, Steven Gerrard, Maxi, Dirk Kuyt, Jay Spearing, Craig Bellamy, Jonjo Shelvey. Subs: Doni, Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Martin Skertel, John Flanagan.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We are with Latics all the way as they look to pull off an FA Cup shock at Anfield tonight.

For those not at the game we will have the action as it happens here on the Chronicle website. The match kicks off at 8pm.

And we have our own team of reporters and photographers to record every bit of what we hope will be a proud night for Oldham and the club.

We've got a reporter travelling with the fans to bring you news and views from the stands + fans pictures that could win you cash with 'Face in the Crowd'.

And once the game is over we'll bring you unrivalled coverage of the action and reaction in a special FA Cup pullout in Monday's Chronicle - DON'T MISS IT!