Liverpool avenged last year’s shock FA Cup exit at Oldham Athletic with an unconvincing 2-0 win against the same opponents at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers’ side sealed their place in the fourth round of the famous competition on Sunday thanks to Iago Aspas’ first goal for the club and a late James Tarkowski own goal.

Spanish forward Aspas volleyed home in the 54th minute as Liverpool turned the screw after the break, and the same player headed against the post just after.

Oldham – who beat Liverpool 3-2 in the fourth round last year, but lost 5-1 at Anfield in round three in 2012 – weathered the storm though, and almost snatched an equaliser when Michael Petrasso forced an excellent save from Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones with 16 minutes left.

But Liverpool, who will travel to Burton Albion or AFC Bournemouth in the fourth round, sealed their win when Sterling’s strike deflected in off Tarkowski in the 82nd minute.

Rodgers rested star striker Luis Suarez, midfielder Philippe Coutinho and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet but recalled captain Steven Gerrard for his first start in almost a month.

Jones deputised in goal for Liverpool, while just two members of the Oldham team that beat Liverpool last year – Jonathan Grounds and James Wesolowski – started for Lee Johnson’s side.

Gerrard, who returned from a hamstring injury against Hull City on Wednesday, was the victim of a crunching tackle from Oldham captain Korey Smith in the first minute and it set the tone in a frustrating first half for Liverpool.

They rarely threatened the Oldham goal, with Luis Alberto going closest in the 14th minute when he shot just wide after a smart lay-off from Victor Moses.

A poor first half saw Rodgers turn to the bench, as Coutinho and Lucas were introduced in place of Alberto and Moses.

Coutinho swung in two testing corners, the second of which was just headed over by Gerrard, before Aspas broke the deadlock nine minutes after the break.

Raheem Sterling was the provider, causing panic in the Oldham defence with a jinking run, and his ball across the penalty box was allowed to bounce before Aspas volleyed in.

Aspas almost doubled his account two minutes later, but his glancing header from another Sterling cross hit the post, and Coutinho’s follow-up was denied by the legs of Oldham goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

Sterling then declined to shoot after charging forward, instead opting to cut back, but Coutinho could only blaze over the bar.

After weathering the storm, Oldham fought back, with Philliskirk again going close from distance before Petrasso span away from Agger and forced a great save from an outstretched Jones.

Rodgers was forced to play his trump card, bringing on Suarez, but it was Sterling who helped wrap up the win, with his strike – that was going wide – going in after an unfortunate Tarkowski deflection.

The Capital One Cup holders have reignited their interest in the winger, who netted 18 goals in the Championship last season

Swansea City have made an approach for Blackpool’s Tom Ince, according to chairman Huw Jenkins, but are not interested in Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling.

The Swans supremo has confirmed that the Premier League club have opened talks with the Tangerines for the second transfer window in succession to ask about the availability of the England Under-21 international, who has scored seven goals in 21 Championship appearances this season.

Ince has shone for Blackpool since joining from Liverpool in 2011, notching an impressive 18 goals last term, and the south Wales outfit are keen to try and bring the youngster to the Liberty Stadium.

“Tom Ince is a talented player and he is someone we are looking at,” Jenkins told the Daily Mail.

“We made an approach in the summer and have done again for this window, but it is up to Blackpool. He is their player. If and when there is a possibility for him to leave, then we would be interested.”

Swansea had also been linked with a move for Liverpool’s Sterling, who could soon become surplus to requirements should the Reds sign Basel’s Mohammed Salah, but Jenkins ruled out a bid, adding: “It’s not correct that we are trying to sign Raheem Sterling.”

The striker has missed just two minutes Premier League action this season and Colin Pascoe revealed the player is likely to reject being rested against the lower-league opposition

Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe has hinted Luis Suarez could feature in Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie with Oldham Athletic.

The League One side travel to Anfield, where Liverpool will be determined to avenge last season’s 3-2 loss to the same opponents in the fourth round.

Suarez played, and scored, in that meeting at Boundary Park, and Pascoe says the 26-year-old is so keen to keep playing he will reject any possible suggestion to do so by Brendan Rodgers despite carrying an injury.

“You would always look at [resting players] but if you ask Luis, he would say no because he wants to play every game,” Pascoe told the club’s official website.

“He couldn’t put his boot on two days before the Hull game. He just has that kind of mentality and is a man who wants to play every game.

“If Brendan told him he was going to rest him in the cup, I’m sure he would say he wants to play. That’s the kind of person he is. He wants to play every game.

“He just gets up and gets on with it, that’s the type he is – he just gets up, dusts himself down and what he does best then is put the ball in the net.”

Rodgers is not blessed with striking options for the game, with Daniel Sturridge still injured and Iago Aspas regaining fitness after a thigh lay-off, although the Spaniard featured in all three of Liverpool’s festive fixtures, starting Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Hull City.