There’s just under an hour until kick-off at Anfield as Liverpool get set to take on Exeter City in their FA Cup 3rd round replay after the sides drew 2-2 in their first meeting earlier this month.
We’ll have all the team news shortly but it appears as if Jurgen Klopp will name a similar side to to the one he did in the first game.
Jose Enrique will captain Liverpool tonight but defender Jon Flanagan will have to settle for a place on the bench after over 18 months out.
After his mistake in the first game, Adam Bogdam is also relegated to a watching brief .
Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Randall, Ilori, Enrique, Smith, Brannagan, Allen, Stewart, Ibe, Teixeira, Benteke.
Subs: Bogdan, Flanagan, Kent, Sinclair, Ojo, Maguire, Chirivella
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale has also named his XI but only one of the goalscorers from the first game — Lee Holmes — start while Jordan Moore-Taylor captains the side.
Tom Nichols, the side’s top scorer, has to settle for a spot on the bench.
Exeter City XI: Olejnik, Ribeiro, Brown, Moore-Taylor, Woodman, Oakley, Butterfield, Davies, Nicholls, Holmes, Morrison.
Subs: McAllister, Hoskins, Hamon, Tillson, Nichols, Grant, Wheeler.
Klopp has just told Ray Stubbs on BT Sport that he has not practised penalties… but that his player’s have.
The big messer.
Ireland cult hero Clinton Morrison starts for Exeter for the first time in nine games. He has form scoring against Liverpool in important cup games:
And the game is under way.
Liverpool have started the brighter of the two sides and Jordan Ibe helps the home side win the game’s first corner after just three minutes. Exeter do well to clear their lines.
Chance: Benteke with the game’s first shot on target as he turns quickly and tries to catch Olejnik off guard. It is, however, a tame effort in the end and the League Two side’s goalkeeper deals with it comfortably.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Exeter City
It felt like Exeter City had failed to get out of their own half in the opening ten minutes and nice work from Brad Smith finds Joe Allen to give the home side the lead.
Close! Benteke with a really good chance to make it 2-0 but the £30 million man heads over from close range when it looked easier to score. It really is all Liverpool at the moment.
Another decent chance for Liverpool but this time Benteke’s header goes into the side-netting rather than over the bar. In fairness to the Belgian striker, he’s getting on the end of things, he just has not been able to apply a clinical finish just yet.
Chance: Liverpool have now managed 10 shots, five on target while their visitors have failed to muster a single attempt on goal. Ibe’s effort from the edge of the box forces a corner.
Half-time: Liverpool 1-0 Exeter City
Liverpool good value for their 1-0 lead but have wasted a significant number of chances in the first half. Luckily for Jurgen Klopp, the visitors have created nothing themselves.
The second half is under way and there are two changes for the visitors with Clinton Morrison and Danny Butterfield being replaced by Tom Nichols and Will Hoskins as they look to get back into this game.
The second half is starting with a familiar pattern, Liverpool well on top.
And here’s a substitution that will please the home fans, Jon Flanagan comes on for his first appearance in 20 months.
CLOSE! Ibe nearly makes it 2-0 as his rocket of a strike hits the underside of the bar but it doesn’t look like the whole of the ball crossed the line.
Even Cafu is happy to see Flanagan back:
Chance: Exeter have an effort on target through Holmes but it’s tame and Mignolet — the only survivor from Sunday’s loss to Manchester United — deals with it very comfortably.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Exeter City
And that’s probably the game, a wonderful finish from Sheyi Ojo into the Kop end. He’s looked bright since coming on for Joe Allen 10 minutes ago.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Exeter City
It definitely is over now. A great pass from Benteke is rewarded with a tidy finish from João Carlos Teixeira and it’s cruise control for the home side from here on in.
Full-time: Liverpool 3-0 Exeter City
Rafa Out banners already. Chants of “f..k off Rafa you’re not welcome”.
Comedy Gold at the bridge today.
Chelsea fans are worlds worst….. It’s a privilege to have a manager like Rafa…. Hope rafa takes his money a run, after the treatment he will get from these high class thugs….
I think it’s more a case of Di Matteo getting sacked. The fans wouldn’t welcome anybody after it. Rafa is just the target of the fans anger when it really should be Abromavich getting the boos
A minute ago other was because he liked to play 9-0-1.
Where did you read your latest “opinion”?
Jesus Damien give it a rest already. I don’t like the defensive style Rafa uses. shockingly enough that’s MY OWN opinion. I’m merely speculating that it wouldnt matter who replaced Di Matteo because he was the man to lead Chelsea to the champs league and FA cup titles last year, and as such is the man the Chelsea fans want to see lead their team
Now do me a favour and try not to troll over every comment I make. its not my faulty made a tool of yourself earlier on.
Yes free flowing football won Chelsea those trophies alright. It’s obvious you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Don’t worry it’s not your “faulty”.
The free flowing football I mentioned arrived with the new look midfield of Oscar and Hazard. In case you didn’t know, they weren’t around for the champs league last year.
Sorry about the typo. Now please go get yourself a life. For a guy that advised me to stop reading newspapers you’re spending a lot of time on here.
Finally since we’re correcting spelling and grammar, “u” is a letter “you” is the word you were looking for.
Pretend all you like that you didn’t understand what I meant about reading too many newspapers.
I know what you ment you clown, just because happen to agree with the general consensus doesn’t mean I took it from the paper. now in the most polite way I can put it, piss of.
Try harder you’re nearly there.
its ok I’m finished feeding the trolls today
You read that somewhere?
It’s not just the Di Matteo sacking. There was a lot of bad blood between Rafa and Chelsea and in particular the fans since the days when he was Liverpoool manager.
In terms of upsetting the fans, it’s probably the worst appointment since George Graham became Spurs manager.
Sexy football? You’ve clearly never seen a team play under Rafa! Di Matteo had Chelsea playing free flowing football. Rafa will be playing that 9-0-1 formation I reckon
I think u should stop reading the newspapers. Try thinking for yourself.
You might like it.
says the man reading the online news!
Hah?
Rafa likes to run a team with no interference, and has shown he can produce when left alone by owners…. But as in the cowboys, and moratti at inter Milan, also eventually the owners at Valencia interfered, it will not work. Expect roman to pile pressure on him…. Imagine guardiola…. Who would be fired after 1 draw, given the expectations on him….
It’s one dull game.So far
16.48 Torres tangles for a 50/50 with Azpil… and wins a free?!? Really, his teammate?!
An ashley Cole raping shot?
at 1744