The FA Cup returned this weekend with the Fourth Round and it proved tobe quite eventful. In a week for Aston Villa fans to forget, after been knocked out on Tuesday by Bradford City in the League Cup semi-final. At the New Den, Millwall knocked out Aston Villa 2-1 a result that wasn't surprising in the least thus heaping more pressure on a young but inexperienced side and their manager Paul Lambert.
It was the first of many to come this weekend.
On Saturday - Barnsley, Luton Town and MK Dons provided the shocks. As Luton and MK Dons travelled to top flight clubs Norwich and QPR respectively and came away with fantastic results. In MK Dons case an empathic win despite two late QPR goals.
Luton became the first non-League side to knock out a top flight side in 20 odd years, since Sutton United defeated then FA Cup holders Coventry City. Not to be outdone a shock that went unnoticed was Barnsley's win away to fellow high-flying Championship promotion contenders Hull City.
On Sunday - prove to be another day of shocks as both Liverpool and Tottenham crashed out to lower League opposition in Leeds and Oldham. In a game contrasting to games of a decade ago, Spurs travelled to Elland Road but were outdone by a hard-working Neil Warnock side 2-1 on the day.
While at Boundary Park, Brendan Rodgers and his Liverpool side disappointingly crashed out to League One struggler's Oldham. Oldham deserved their win on the day and like some performances this season exposed a soft underbelly that this Liverpool side has. A good opportunity to progress undone by some individual mistakes again, although towards the end at 3-1 Liverpool pressed. They did manage to cut the arrears to 3-2 but two goals either side of half-time all but ended Liverpool's hopes of a recovery as they crashed out for the 8th time to lower League opposition since the inception of the Premier League era.
In Sunday's other tie a local derby in London as Chelsea and Rafa Benitez travelled to Griffin Park and League One high-flyers Brentford. A side managed by former Manchester City cult hero, Uwe Rosler gave Chelsea no quarter. Only a late equaliser from much-maligned Fernando Torres rescued a replay for Chelsea, but unlike Spurs and Liverpool they are still in the cup.
From a Liverpool point of view, today showed some glaring problems which will take time to iron out. On Wednesday the Reds travel to the Emirates to play the Arsenal it what will the first of two difficult games but a week defining moment of sorts. The good thing is the players have two days to stew over today's result and come out Wednesday to show what they are made of. For Brendan Rodgers, the impending signing of Phillipe Coutinho will add more depth but for him concerns at the back remain. Roll on Arsenal!!!
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