'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Oldham Athletic were drawn against Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup which is not only a replay of last year’s fixture, which Oldham won 3-2, but also a “father vs son” match up.
Brendan Rodgers and his son Anton Rodgers, who plays for Oldham Athletic and is a midfielder by trade, were very excited by the fixture.
The Guardian caught up with both of them for their reactions about the fixture:
Brendan Rodgers was quoted saying : “I was in the house watching a game on TV when I checked my phone and saw all these texts from [Oldham's manager] Lee Johnson and the chairman of Oldham [Simon Corney] and realized we must have got them in the draw. It is incredible, something that may never happen in a lifetime.”
Brendan Rodgers might have taken some time to know about the fixture, but his son immediately came to know that the fixture had been announced and said:
“I sent a text to my dad but didn’t get an answer. I think he was swerving my calls. I didn’t believe it at first, I thought it was too good to be true. I was with my son when I finally got hold of him and we had a bit of banter.”
Brendan Rodgers, who was in bullish mood and looked forward to see his son play at Anfield, said: “I was telling him that we were the highest scorers in the Premier League last year, how Anfield is a fortress and that I am looking forward to seeing him. He is a wonderful young player and terrific talent. Anfield will suit him.”
With Liverpool’s squad bearing the brunt of a busy December and January schedules there is a high probability that Brendan Rodgers will play a second string team. This may well give Anton Rodgers a chance to shine at Anfield and impress “The Kop”.
