FA Cup results: Everton 0-1 Oldham

The Toffees crash out to their lower league near neighbours

The dreaded 'r' word of rotation will be weighing heavily on the minds of supporters of one half of Merseyside today. However this time its the blue half of Merseyside cringing as David Moyes attempts at a rotation policy brought about a crushing FA Cup result.

Moyes made a host of changes that just didn't come off. After a bright start to this third round FA Cup tie, Oldham held Everton off with relative ease and Gary McDonald's stunning 25 yard effort just before half-time was enough to dump Everton out.

Moyes made a double substitution in the second half as it became apparent Oldham had the upper hand. Yakubu and Victor Anichebe replaced Vaughan and the woeful Thomas Gravesen. Yakubu almost rescued the Everton FA Cup campaign, hitting the upright with almost the last kick of the game. However it wasn't to be and Oldham secured a famous and fully deserved FA Cup victory.

FA Cup - Luton vs Liverpool, Everton vs Oldham

Benitez risking it all for rotation, as Moyes fears an upset

Whatever you say about Rafael Benitez, he is most certainly his own, very brave, man. As his position has become more and more weakened by recent results, he is prepared to risk it all by rotating his squad for the tricky FA Cup trip to Luton. Mascherano, Gerrard, Torres, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Hypia, and Agger are all likely to be rested or are injured for the third round FA Cup tie at Kenilworth Road. Lose this and surely his position will become untenable, especially as there are reports he has lost support in the board room.

Xabi Alonso would just like a win at Luton and isn't expecting a repeat of his sixty yard effort in the previous FA Cup clash at Kenilworth Road in season 2005/06, when Liverpool went all the way and lifted the FA Cup in a dramatic final against West Ham. Footy Focus prediction: Liverpool win to give Rafa some breathing space.

Elsewhere Everton's David Moyes has voiced his fears of an upset, as he prepares his team for the visit of Oldham. Given he's got a Tuesday Carling Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea he would like to rest some senior players, but is dreading a repeat of Everton going out of the FA Cup to Shrewsbury. Goodison Park should be a full house, for a traditional FA Cup ding-dong battle. Footy Focus prediction: Everton win.