CHELSEA NA LIVERPOOL KWA RAHA ZAOO WALEEEE RAUNDI NYINGINE KOMBE LA FA

There was no upset this time but there were not many smiles, either. Oldham gave Brendan Rodgers his worst moment of 2013, now they have just left him with a headache.
Liverpool's manager was left seething when Oldham bounced his side out in the fourth round 12 months ago; angry with himself for making so many changes at Boundary Park but enraged with his fringe players for letting him down when it mattered most.
That chastening 3-2 defeat made him realise he the pool of performers on which he could rely was small and he would have felt the same on Sunday night. Liverpool, with home advantage, dispatched their League One opponents 2-0 but only after Rodgers had called for the cavalry.

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The opener: Iago Aspas gave Liverpool the lead against Oldham in the 54th minute

Brazilian midfielders Lucas and Philippe Coutinho, then Luis Suarez, were summoned from the substitutes' bench in the second half after Rodgers had stood on the touchline for 45 minutes and been left visibly irritated by what he had seen.
'We needed to do better,' Rodgers said, after Iago Aspas strike and a James Tarkowski own goal secured Liverpool a date with either Burton or Bournemouth. 'We needed more speed and intensity in our game. I didn't want to do it but the last thing you want is for it to go to a replay.
'As a manager you learn that you can't just wait for it to happen. You know you have to create the momentum yourself. It was the sort of game where you hope to rest a number of players but we had to send on Lucas and Coutinho who were guys who had played all over the Christmas period.
'They could probably have done with a rest. But we also wanted to win the game - I didn't want it going to a replay. They (the fringe players) have to contribute. We can't rely on 11/12 players (if we want to compete).' But that is how it looks. While there was the obvious bonus of Steven Gerrard returning without issue from a hamstring problem, few of the six changes that Rodgers made to the side that beat Hull 2-0 on New Year's Day did anything to enthuse their manager.

 

Pulling the trigger: Iago Aspas' goal may have earned him a run in the team after being peripheral

Here comes the cavalry: Liverpool introduced Lucas (left) and Philippe Coutinho at half-time

Diving in: Steven Gerrard (bottom) remained as competitive as ever as he tackled James Wesolowski

Victor Moses and Luis Alberto were the main offenders, with left-back Aly Cissokho little better, yet there was at least a well-taken goal from Aspas, who arrived last summer from Celta Vigo for £7million but has rarely looked like providing value.
'It was very important for his confidence,' said Rodgers. ' It is difficult when you have a world class striker (Suarez) playing week in and week out, knocking in the goals with Daniel Sturridge supporting him so well. But it was good for him to get the 90 minutes and score in front of the Kop.
'For goalscorers it is important to get goals as early as they can. He has given that cover to the team. The form of Suarez and Sturridge has given him very limited opportunities but he took his goal well. It was a difficult game; there was no doubt about that. You have to give Oldham credit.'
That was beyond dispute. Oldham maybe 19th in League One but as was the case when they last came to Anfield, at the same stage of the FA Cup in 2012, they fought for everything, hustled and bustled but just lacked quality when it mattered.

Midfield battle: Liverpool's Raheem Sterling (left) vies for possession with Oldham's Mike Petrasso (right)

Derby 0 Chelsea 2

It was a day of mixed fortunes for Chelsea midfielders in the pool. Ramires won no applause for his dive but John Obi Mikel was hailed for his courage as he ventured into unfamiliar territory wearing armbands.
Well, he had one, even if he wasn't meant to, and it seemed to make all the difference as Mikel rose to head Chelsea into the lead. It was only his fourth goal in seven and a half years at the club and came on his 300th appearance.
Perhaps it was the armband, thrust into his possession when captain Michael Essien was substituted, that supplied him with the extra buoyancy and added confidence required on a rare excursion into the deep end of the pitch.

On the scoresheet: John Obi Mikel celebrates after putting Chelsea 1-0 up against Derby

'There was a smile on my face,' said manager Jose Mourinho. 'I never recognised his ability to score goals. I recognised his ability to play as an anchorman. He reads the game well and he plays that position in a very intelligent and safe way. I never recognised his goalscoring appetite.
'For some reason, Essien gave him the armband when normally it should go to Ashley Cole, and it made him believe he was a goalscorer. It was important.
'We were dominating and creating but the goal was not arriving. It was like the winning goal.'
Mikel leapt at the near post to flash a header past Lee Grant from a free-kick by Willian, in the 66th minute. Oscar smashed in the second, six minutes later, an effort Grant should have saved, and Chelsea eased into the fourth round of the FA Cup without fuss.
Derby manager Steve McClaren was left to speak of the belief he has in his team to complete their promotion drive and of his joy at the terrific atmosphere generated by more than 32,000 packed into Pride Park, where there is a genuine sense that the good times are returning.

 

Opener: Mikel heads the ball into the net to break the deadlock for Chelsea in the 66th minute

Unstoppable: Oscar (left) holds off Derby's Jeff Hendrick as he fires a strike into the net for 2-0

Job done: Oscar (right) is congratulated by Willian after doubling Chelsea's lead

'It takes me back to when I was with Jim Smith, when the place was rocking,' said McClaren. 'We want more of this. That's what we want to bring here. 'We played against one of the best teams in Europe. I couldn't be more proud.'
Derby finished with a flurry when Conor Sammon forced Mark Schwarzer into a rare save and Mason Bennett went close but Chelsea had dominated.
McClaren's pride will stem from the organisation and industry of his players as they restricted the Barclays Premier League teams to mainly efforts from distance in the first half. Oscar shaved the frame of the goal with a free-kick and Ramires curled a low shot against the foot of a post.
The introduction of Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres - two substitutes signed for more than £80million when their fees are combined - altered the complexion of the game. Hazard added tempo and energy and won the free-kick for Mikel's opener.
Torres simply put himself about far more than Samuel Eto'o. Around 5,500 Chelsea fans made the trip to the East Midlands and they cheered their approval when Eto'o was replaced.

Going: The athletic Chelsea midfielder runs into the Derby penalty area with purpose

Going: Despite the obvious lack of contact, Ramires begins his dive after entering the penalty box

Going: Chelsea midfielder Ramires nearly hits the ground after his dive against Derby