JURGEN KLOPP MUST be breathing a sigh of relief after a Brad Smith strike rescued a draw for his inexperienced Liverpool side at Exeter tonight.
The German picked an experimental line-up in the third-round FA Cup tie, fielding just two players with more than four appearances for the club — Christian Benteke and Jose Enrique. And it was just the Spaniard’s first appearance of the season.
A Lee Holmes goal direct from a corner on the stroke of half-time will be giving Liverpool’s stand-in goalkeeper Adam Bogdan nightmares for a while yet. He was under pressure from Tom Nichols at the time but should have dealt with the delivery comfortably.
Few would have been more relieved than the Hungarian then to see Smith steer home on 73 minutes.
Nichols got the home side off to a dream start after just nine minutes, prodding home a Jamie Read cross into the bottom corner.
That lead didn’t last long though as an Exeter defensive mix-up saw the ball fall to 19-year-old Jerome Sinclair in the box. And the youngster tucked it away with ease to claim his first senior goal for Liverpool.
Exeter restored their lead just before the interval when Holmes’ delivery caught out Bogdan. It was against the run of play; Liverpool had the lion’s share of possession but did little with it.
The League Two side started the second period with intent, dominating their Premier League opposition and going for the jugular.
Liverpool, meanwhile, were struggling to get captain Benteke in the game. But they nicked one back through Australian left-back Smith after Exeter failed to clear their lines once again.
It was a nervy finish in Devon but in the end it was a fair result and a replay at Anfield was a just reward for Exeter’s spirited performance.
Clinton Morrison wasn’t introduced for the home side, even when the game was in the balance late on.
Dublin teen Conor Masterson, 17, was on Klopp’s bench but also didn’t feature.
Should have had his ban increased for a frivolous appeal. A stonewall red card. Now Munster face the appalling vista of 36 year old Stephen Archer potentially playing a full 80 mins, otherwise they’ll have to throw in the academy prospect Donnelly. Still think Northampton are vastly overrated and Munster can and will win this one.
@Aidan Farrell: Jesus Christ, you’d swear no team ever appealed a ban before. How can you say it was frivolous without knowing what their grounds for appealing was?
@Aidan Farrell: irrespective of what you think, Munster were within their rights to appeal. Two minutes on the pitch and gets what he deserves for such a tackle.
@mark sheehan: I don’t believe he really deserved the red card but Sean O’Brien (who was wearing 14 jersey) deserved it instead. He effectively lifted the right leg which made Ryan’s situation look worse (IMHO).
@Aidan Farrell: You cannot have a process without the opportunity to appeal… The only reason that the sanction can be increased is if the appeal panel felt the original ban was too lenient. It would set a dangerous precedent otherwise.
@Aidan Farrell: Northampton are actually very very good this season. Top of the premiership, already beaten Munster in away in Thomond, haven’t lost a champions cup game and have won 12 of their last games in a row. Saracens thumped Harlequins the week 2 weeks ago by 45 pts and then Northampton beat Saracens by 11 pts last week. They are full strength for this weekend at home so I cannot see how Munster will get by them this weekend. They’ll need to be exceptionally good to do so.
@Aidan Farrell: tell me your from leinster without telling me your from leinster.
@Aidan Farrell: Are you a recent convert to the oval ball?
@Aidan Farrell: I thought you were being sarcastic last time. Unfortunately not :|
Lots of high and mighty Leinster fans online today crowing about how Munster shouldn’t be allowed appeal, the ban should be extended etc.
I wonder were they as critical of Leinster when they appealed Shane Jennings ban for gouging Nick Kennedy
@mWhSNsK2: Wow, don’t you know how to blow things out of proportion! You have “fans” plural when there’s only one person who raised an issue. Get real lad!
@Con Cussed: is The 42 the only place that’s online or are you that dim?
@mWhSNsK2: For somebody pretending to be smart you are commenting on the42.ie and making generalisations without facts most of the time. Which you have a habit of doing and is not making you seem so bright!
Furthermore you bring up something that happened way back in 2009 in relation to a recent event. Get a life or better still a job!
@Con Cussed: I said online, you’re the one that made presumptions that I was talking about the 42 only. No, I’m good for now. I’ll keep sustained at the expense of the taxpayer for a while longer
@mWhSNsK2: Well, there were plenty of high and mighty Munster whinging about Antoine Frisch yesterday. WoUlDnT hApPeN tO lEiNsTeR :/ I’m sure you went out of your way to challenge them, too.
@Andrew Martin Farrell: speak when you’re spoken to
@Andrew Martin Farrell: does Luke McGrath come to your mind this evening ?
@mWhSNsK2: course they should be allowed to appeal. I’m ashamed that we did though
@Andrew Martin Farrell: Tony doesn’t understand how an online forum works, he thinks he’s having a quiet one on one conversation with someone here. His default response when he doesn’t like being challenged with points he can’t refute is that he wasn’t speaking to you. This is tony. Don’t be like tony.
@PJ Smith: I understand quite perfectly. It’s when clowns like you butt in with nothing worthy to add to the conversation is when I have a problem
@mWhSNsK2: Wasn’t speaking to you there tony
For God’s sake, lads stop this Leinster v Munster bull. I sincerely hope they both win. Are they not both Irish. This is probably why we are considered the Isle of begrudgers. As a die-hard Leinster fan, I hope Munster win ever match they play other than against Leinster and I hope visa versa for Munster fans.
Otherwise, don’t call yourself Irish or a true rugby supporter. You are just very sad.
@Tony Connolly: nothing wrong with a bit of friendly rivalry
@Tony Connolly: could not agree more. How can we be seen as some of the best live fans in the world, but among the most miserable online?
I felt it was a yellow but have no arguments with the upgrade to a red. Two players cleaning out a ruck without knowing what the other is doing can have dangerous results, without it being intentional by any one player.
I’d be a bit fearful for Munster scrum time without Jager and Ryan there now. Should be a good game but I’ll go with home advantage winning out.
@Dave Murray: They’re missing props aswell. Back row is a war tho
Was worth a go I suppose. Can see Loughman move to TH at 60. Donnelly is on the bench but that’s probably a break glass option
@mWhSNsK2: Donnelly has played TH prop for Ireland U20s. Im not so sure loughman has. It easier said than done. Big opporunity for Donnelly.
@Steve Mccarthy: Loughman has shifted to TH a couple of times for Munster. He definitely did in the 2022 game vs Leinster in the Aviva. He was sub TH for a couple of games in 2019/2020 too
@mWhSNsK2: Donnellys decent (imo)
Why is there a rumour that there is a spilt in the Munster camp.
@David Jackman: Jackman has been saying he’s hearing of some dissent in the camp, mentions contracts, transitions, etc. Maybe something to do with PoMs contract, he’s not the most charismatic lad perhaps it’s having a wider effect (the the whole thing has been handled horribly by Munster tho), also mentions something with Frische? no idea what went on there. Don’t need it tbf. It seems like every department in Munster has needed an overhaul from 10 years ago and were gradully working our way around the organisation. Also seems like Jackman and co could potentially get a weeks work out of it if they cant find a win on Sunday… hard to know
Other Jackman ;)