Liverpool look to enjoy Exeter trip in FA Cup third round meet

Lee Gormley | January 7, 2016

Exeter City v Liverpool

FA Cup third round
Friday, January 8th
Kick-off: 19:55 GMT
St James’ Park, Exeter
Live on BBC One

Exeter host Liverpool in FA Cup third round

League Two outfit Exeter City welcome Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to St James’ Park for their FA Cup third round encounter on Friday night hoping to cause a massive upset, while the Reds look to continue on their path towards silverware.

The Merseysiders have not lifted this prestigious cup competition since 2006 but will aim to capitalise on a favourable draw against a side contesting three divisions below them.

Liverpool faced Exeter in the FA Cup back in 1950, securing a 3-1 victory that day, and have since won all four other League Cup meetings too, with Klopp’s latest Reds crop 6/4 from Coral to win to nil this time out.

Although, with the third round of England’s grandest knockout competition having thrown up plenty of huge shocks before, Paul Tisdale’s Grecians are 13/2 to add another memorable victory to that long list.

Tisdale targets exploiting Reds defensive issues

Exeter boss Tisdale has outlined Liverpool’s recent defensive frailties as a potential source of success for his third tier side, who are currently sitting 16th in their domestic standings.

“We work on a way to enhance our strengths and hide our weaknesses. I can’t put a tag on it as being long-ball football or wing play. But we’ve gone through where we’ve got a chance,” stated Tisdale.

“It will be one manager up against another, albeit one with more resources.

“Clearly, Liverpool have some strengths going forward and if we spend all our time focusing on those we won’t get out of our half. It is a compromise, it’s risk against reward.

“But we have watched them and have our eye on what we think we must do.”

Klopp has injury headache for cup clash

It’s believed German coach Klopp will be without up to 10 first-team players for his side’s visit to Exeter, with Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson, Mamadou Sakho, Jordon Ibe and Martin Skrtel only some of those high-profile absentees.

With such a long list of casualties, many Reds youngster will have to rise to the occasion and could cement their mark on the first-team picture, including Harry Wilson, Ryan Kent and Brad Smith.

Ibe is one Liverpool starlet that has flourished under new management but earlier joined the club’s packed-out treatment room after a hamstring injury, following his Capital One Cup first leg heroics. Belgian frontman Christian Benteke is therefore the main attacking threat and 3/1 to open proceedings on their travels.

For the hosts, who have lost their last four successive games, in-form forward Tom Nichols has enjoyed recent goal scoring success and is 7/2 to net anytime, while dangerman Ollie Watkins is 10/3 to get on the scoresheet.

Read our FA Cup archive.

Coral’s top tip: Back towering Liverpool frontman Christian Benteke to score first at 3/1.

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