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With only league competition through much of the fall thanks to a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford in the League Cup, Liverpool have found themselves with plenty of opportunities for rest between fixtures. The December slate has congested things a bit, but we've mostly taken things a week at a time to this point in the season. That's about to change come the first weekend in January, when Liverpool will host the winner of the Oldham v. Mansfield Second Round replay.
The two sides drew 1-1 at Boundary Park yesterday; Korey Smith opened the scoring in the 28th minute for the hosts with a wonderful goal, but Oldham couldn't add to their lead and conceded a Samuel Clucas goal in first half injury time to leave the match level. Neither side could find the winner despite a few Oldham chances at the end, and they'll now travel to Field Mill in the replay to see who heads to Anfield on the weekend of January 4th and 5th.
Oldham currently sit 14th in League One, while Mansfield Town are 18th in League Two. But as Liverpool have generously demonstrated in seasons past (and very nearly against Notts County earlier this season) it doesn't really matter who the opposition is in cup competition.
Hello darkness, my old friend.
