An injury-hit Liverpool team travel to Devonshire to face Football League Two side Exeter City in the FA Cup. The Reds won their last game against Stoke City in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup, while Exeter City lost their last game 2-1 against Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. at home.
Liverpool are hit with a number of injuries, and now have seven players out with hamstring injuries. Ryan Kent, Tiago Ilori and Sheyi Ojo have been recalled from their loan spells while Klopp also assured supporters Liverpool will make use of the transfer window to get some replacements.
Kickoff and Live Telecast
Channel: Sony Six and Sony Six HD
Date and Time: Friday, 9th January, 01:25 AM
Venue: St James Park
Team News
Exeter City
David Wheeler is expected to miss out as he hasn’t recovered from an ankle injury yet while the likes of Christian Ribeiro and David Noble are expected to start after recovering from their respective injuries.
Liverpool
Liverpool have 13 players out due to injury, and Jurgen Klopp is struggling to assemble a fit squad. Martin Skrtel, Philippe Coutinho, Dejan Lovren, Divock Origi, Jordan Rossiter, Daniel Sturridge and Jordon Ibe are all out due to hamstring injuries.
Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is yet to recover from his heel injury while Mamadou Sakho is also out with a knee injury. Kolo Toure was seen limping in the last game and is expected to miss out as well.
Probable Lineups
Exeter City(4-4-2): Olejnik; Davies, Brown, Moore-Taylor, Woodman; Grant, Nicholls, Tillson, Holmes; Nichols, Reid
Liverpool(4-2-3-1): Bogdan; Randall, Llori, Enrique, Smith; Lucas, Allen; Milner, Firmino, Kent; Benteke
Form
Exeter City
The home side have managed just one win in their last four games. Their last win came against Port Vale in the FA Cup, and then they lost against Luton, Oxford, AFC Wimbledon and Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. in the Football League Two.
Last 5 Matches: W-L-L-L-L (Last match: Exeter City 1-2 Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. )
Liverpool
Liverpool have won three and lost two in their last five games. The Reds lost 3-0 away to Watford, and 2-0 away to West Ham United while they managed 1-0 win against Leicester City and Sunderland. Jurgen Klopp’s team won 1-0 in their last game against Stoke City in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup.
Last 5 Matches: L-W-W-L-W (Last match: Stoke City 0-1 Liverpool)
Key Stats
- Liverpool haven’t lost a single game in Cup competitions this season. (W-5, D-5)
- Exeter City haven’t won any of their last six league games at home. (D-3,L-3)
- Exeter City have lost their last four games since their FA Cup win against Port Vale.
- Liverpool won 3-1 against Exeter City when the last time the two sides met in the League Cup.
- Liverpool have won all the five times they have played against Exeter City, scoring 19 goals and conceding just two.
Key Battles
Christian Benteke vs Jordan Moore-Taylor
Christian Benteke has been very inconsistent for Liverpool this season and despite that he is their top goal-scorer, and will fancy his chances against a League Two side. He’ll be hoping to impress Klopp after getting dropped in the last game against Stoke City.
The 25-year-old has scored seven goals so far for Liverpool this season, and will be looking to add to his tally. Young defender Moore-Taylor is relatively inexperienced, and might struggle to keep Benteke quiet throughout the game.
Roberto Firmino vs Troy Brown
Brazilian star Roberto Firmino is another player who came in with a lot of expectations but has been inconsistent so far. Firmino had a fine outing against Stoke City but needs to step up now in the absence of Coutinho and Ibe. Firmino has the pace and trickery to cause problems for defenders, and can be unstoppable on his day.
Brown will have to be at his best, and make sure he doesn’t give too much time and space on the ball to Firmino.
Betting Odds (bet365)
Exeter City – 7/1
Draw – 15/4
Liverpool – 4/9
Prediction
Liverpool has too many injuries to deal with, and Klopp might play a few youngsters. Exeter City should fancy their chances, and might take the game to Anfield.
Exeter City 2-2 Liverpool
