LONDON: Premier League casualties in the FA Cup rose to 13 as Liverpool went down 3-2 to League One strugglers Oldham Athletic in their fourth round clash at Boundary Park.
Even the second-half arrival of Steven Gerrard as substitute could not save Brandon Rodgers’s seven-times winners of the Cup.
Oldham’s reward was another home draw against the other Mersey giants, Everton.
Two-goal Matt Smith who, 18 months ago was playing non-league football with Solihull Moors, had the best day of his fragmented professional career after giving the Reds’ defence a torrid time.
He scored either side of Luis Suarez’s 21st of the season in the first half before Reece Wabara’s header put the Latics into the last 16 despite Joe Allen’s goal 11 minutes from time.
It was the first time Liverpool had been beaten away from home in the FA Cup by a team at least two divisions below them since defeat at non-league Worcester City in 1959.
Leeds United continued the trend for fourth round upsets in the FA Cup after holding on to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Elland Road.
Ross McCormack’s goal five minutes into the second half sent Leeds into the last 16 and ensured Spurs befell the same fate as Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers, who were knocked out on Saturday.
Luke Varney had given the Whites a first-half lead and, though Clint Dempsey pulled a goal back, Spurs were unable to find an equaliser as some brilliant last-ditch defending denied Jonathan Obika in the last minute.
Other Premier weekend departures from the FA Cup included Aston Villa, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City and – the biggest shock of the fifth round – Norwich at home to Luton from the non-League Conference.
The fifth round draw
Huddersfield or Leicester City v Wigan Athletic
MK Dons v Barnsley
Oldham Athletic v Everton
Luton Town v Millwall
Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers
Manchester City v Leeds Utd
Manchester Utd v Reading
Middlesbrough v Brentford or Chelsea
Ties on Feb 16/17
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