FA Cup betting preview: Injury-hit Liverpool to slip up against Exeter
The last time Liverpool visited Exeter City in the FA Cup was 1950, when Scotland international Willie Fagan sealed a convincing 3-1 win.
A lot has changed in the last 66 years but Liverpool’s superiority has not. The two have never been in the same league and Exeter have never played in the top flight.
The Reds’ visit to Devon is highly anticipated, and I’ve got a feeling we could see the fabled magic of the cup in action this evening.
Jurgen Klopp’s men come into this fixture in poor form and decimated by injury. There is a very real chance this could prove a banana skin for the away side.
While 1-0 wins over Stoke, Sunderland and Leicester in recent weeks have lifted spirits at Anfield, the free-flowing football of Klopp’s early games are a distant memory.
Painful away defeats to Watford and West Ham are stark reminders of the Reds’ inconsistency.
With 11 first-team players ruled out through injury and games against Arsenal and Manchester United next week, it should be a makeshift side that starts at St James Park.
Exeter are also in poor form, losing all four games since their second-round triumph over Port Vale, though keeping one eye on this tie could be the reasonable excuse.
Frustrating Liverpool will surely be the aim for the Grecians, with the target of a replay at Anfield a real possibility.
With the Reds only scoring three in their last five, I’m confident that by sitting deep and feeding off the fiery atmosphere, Exeter will have enough to grab a draw.
Betway offer 15/4 for the Grecians to force a replay, which is fair.
I can’t see there being many goals in this one, so I’ll be selling total goals at 2.90 with Sporting Index.
Pointers
Draw 15/4 (Betway)
Sell total goals 2.90 (Sporting Index)