Match ends, Liverpool 2, Oldham Athletic 0.
Iago Aspas scored his first Liverpool goal as the Reds overcame a stubborn Oldham in their FA Cup third round tie.
The home side struggled until Aspas hooked in a shot from Raheem Sterling's cross before the Spaniard also hit the post with a header.
Oldham went close when Micheal Petrasso produced a skilful turn but saw his shot smartly saved by Brad Jones.
But Liverpool sealed the win with an own goal after Sterling's shot went in off James Tarkowski.
The Anfield side were forced to play the final nine minutes with 10 men after losing Daniel Agger to an injury after already making all three substitutions.
However, the Reds saw out the game to book a fourth round tie with either Bournemouth or Burton and avenge last season's FA Cup defeat by Oldham.
The Latics are battling to avoid relegation from League One but they made Liverpool, who sit fourth in the Premier League, work hard for their win.
Oldham skipper Korey Smith was booked in the first minute for a crunching tackle on opposing number Steven Gerrard and his challenge set the tone for a determined display from his side.
Liverpool lacked urgency in the first half and struggled to find any fluency to their passing.
Reds manager Brendan Rodgers reacted by bringing on Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva for Luis Alberto and Victor Moses at the break - and the move had the desired effect as the home side started to exert more pressure, with Gerrard heading a Coutinho corner just high.
They broke the deadlock when Sterling dinked in a cross which bounced to around hip high and Aspas steered in a shot.
The striker almost added a second shortly afterwards when he headed another Sterling cross against the woodwork.
The visitors gathered themselves and Danny Philliskirk sent a strike narrowly high before the striker thought he might have had a penalty after being pushed.
Petrasso then left Agger and Kolo Toure trailing before having a well-struck shot from the edge of the box saved by Jones.
Oldham's efforts to get an equaliser left them vulnerable at the back and they paid the price when Liverpool gave themselves the cushion of a second goal.
Coutinho latched on to an Aspas cross and had a shot blocked but the ball fell to Sterling, whose effort was going well wide before deflecting in off Tarkowski.
Check out a photo gallery from all of today's FA Cup fixtures on the BBC Sport Facebook page.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Oldham manager Lee Johnson told BBC Radio Manchester:
"Everybody's an international [at Liverpool] and we're in league one for a reason, but I thought they went out there and showed character and they were bold on the ball, they worked their socks off, they put tackles in and put their bodies on the line and were actually quite unfortunate with the goals.
"The atmosphere was electric and it's great for the group because they're only going to grow from that. We tried, we worked really hard and I think the fans can go home appreciating that although our league position is looking a bit low at the moment, we've got players back fit now and we're hoping for a big 2014.
"Every man can go home, look in the mirror and say 'I really showed what I was about today'."
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Jones
- 34Kelly
- 20Cissokho
- 8GerrardSubstituted forSuárezat 77'minutes
- 4K Touré
- 5Agger
- 31SterlingBooked at 89mins
- 6Romero AlconchelSubstituted forLeivaat 45'minutes
- 9Iago Aspas
- 14Henderson
- 12MosesSubstituted forCoutinhoat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Suárez
- 10Coutinho
- 21Leiva
- 22Mignolet
- 26Ilori
- 37Skrtel
- 50Brannagan
Oldham
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Oxley
- 5KusungaBooked at 90mins
- 12MellorSubstituted forRodgersat 84'minutes
- 8SmithBooked at 1mins
- 6Tarkowski
- 3Grounds
- 9RooneySubstituted forHarkinsat 62'minutes
- 4Wesolowski
- 14Clarke-HarrisSubstituted forDaytonat 61'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 27Philliskirk
- 20Petrasso
Substitutes
- 2Brown
- 15Winchester
- 17Rodgers
- 18Lockwood
- 19Dayton
- 29Rachubka
- 30Harkins
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
- Attendance:
- 44,102
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home64%
- Away36%
- Shots
- Home26
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home13
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Liverpool 2, Oldham Athletic 0.
Post update
Iago Aspas (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by James Dayton (Oldham Athletic).
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Foul by Raheem Sterling (Liverpool).
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Gary Harkins (Oldham Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
James Dayton (Oldham Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by James Dayton (Oldham Athletic).
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Jonathan Grounds.
Booking
Genséric Kusunga (Oldham Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Luis Suárez (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Genséric Kusunga (Oldham Athletic).
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Martin Kelly (Liverpool) because of an injury.
Booking
Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
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Hand ball by Raheem Sterling (Liverpool).
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Luis Suárez (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by James Tarkowski (Oldham Athletic).
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Attempt missed. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.