Klopp’s Reds humble Exeter in FA Cup third round

Matt Haynes | January 20, 2016

Liverpool 3-0 Exeter City

• Allen scores opener as Reds dominate first period
• Ojo adds a second with great strike
• Texeira rounds off the night from close range

Reds race out of blocks

Liverpool showed their intent from the off against Exeter City in their FA Cup third round replay at Anfield as they pinned their visitors back with intent.

Evidenced from opening exchanges where, from the heavens you’d be forgiven for thinking you were watching a pinball machine in full flow.

Christian Benteke, the elder statesman on a field of fledglings among this Liverpool side, seemed determined to make a point to manager Jurgen Klopp. This couldn’t have been more evidenced from the first goal after 10 minutes, when he played pivot in a one-two with Brad Smith, smartly finding the youngster again with a reverse leaving him to fizz across the area with Joe Allen arriving to turn in.

In contrast to the match in the West Country, Exeter seemed to need a compass to find their waytowards goal and issued very little in the way of a response, however, while there was plenty of industry from the hosts, they couldn’t seem to extend their advantage.

Midway through the half, Allen found Joao Teixeira whose cross from the left was teed up nicely for Benteke, though the Belgian’s effort was wasteful, arrowing over the bar. A shot apiece from youngsters Cameron Brannagan and the lively Jordan Ibe summed up the rest of the Reds’ chances who needed to be more clinical in front of goal.

Klopp’s Kop stars cruise

Whatever the German boss said at half time must have worked. Liverpool, 10/1 with Coral to win the FA Cup, moved through the gears impressively and, when Ibe unleashed from the edge of the area, mere inches denied the Reds a second with the ball cannoning down off the bar and partially across the line.

It was, at least intent though. Not long after, his replacement Oluwaseyi Ojo had better luck. Cutting in from the left, he opened his body up and curled a sensational strike past visiting keeper Robert Olejnik and Klopp could breathe.

Texeira taps in third

With Exter restricted to the counter-attack, their best chance was from a free-kick which came from a break-away and, while Craig Woodman’s delivery was potentially threatening, nobody was there to meet it as Benteke cleared away.

The striker then turned provider as, with the game moving into the closing stages, Liverpool launched again. Darting forward, with Exeter in retreat, Benteke took full advantage sliding through a diagonal ball for Texeira to round off this tie.

Alex Nichols had a great chance for a consolation in the closing stages for the guests, however, substitute Jon Flanagan got across to deny him, as Liverpool progressed to the fourth round.

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