Liverpool will look to avoid embarrassment as they kick off their FA Cup campaign on Friday with a trip to fourth-tier outfit Exeter City at St. James Park. The hosts head into the match on the back of four straight defeats in League Two, though will surely raise their game against the top-flight giants. An upset is unlikely, but with home advantage and Liverpool's ongoing injury crisis, it's certainly not impossible.
Liverpool vs. Exeter City 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch FA Cup online
League Two’s Exeter City will be hoping to cause an upset in the FA Cup third round on Friday, as they take on injury-hit Liverpool.
Harry Trump/Getty Images
Though Liverpool only enter the FA Cup at the third round stage, Exeter have already had to beat a couple of sides to earn this lucrative televised fixture. They saw off semi-professional side Didcot Town 3-0, before impressively dismantling League One's Port Vale 2-0. Nevertheless, recent form will also give Liverpool reason for optimism. They've won three of their last four in all competitions, and cemented their place in the Capital One Cup final with a 1-0 victory away at Stoke City on Tuesday.
Key factor: Will Liverpool be able to cope with their injury crisis?
The bad news for Liverpool is that their win over Stoke saw them sustain even more injuries, adding to a list that is already of considerable length.They're without a single first-team center back heading into this match, while attacking stars Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings are all still on the treatment table. The upshot is that veteran Spaniard José Enrique is expected to be handed his first Liverpool appearance in a year, while youngsters Tiago Ilori, Ryan Kent and Sheyi Ojo could make their debuts. It's going to be a motley rabble.
Recent history
These sides have only met five times in history, and once in the last three decades. That came in a League Cup clash at St. James Park back in 2011, when Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners. They’ve not met in the FA Cup since their very first clash in 1950: on that occasion the Anfield crowd coincidentally also celebrated a 3-1 home win, with Exeter’s only goal netted by the magnificently-named Dick Smart.
Exeter City injuries and suspensions
Out: Ryan Harley (hip). In doubt: David Wheeler (ankle).
Liverpool injuries and suspensions
Out: Mamadou Sakho, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez (knee); Dejan Lovren, Philippe Coutinho, Jordon Ibe, Jordan Rossiter, Daniel Sturridge, Martin Skrtel, Divock Origi (hamstring); Kolo Touré (fitness); Jordan Henderson (foot). In doubt: None.
Exeter will be without a couple of their most creative forces in midfielders Harley and Wheeler, but their injury list is nevertheless considerably shorter than Liverpool’s.
Match date/time: Fri., Jan. 8, 2:55 p.m. ET, 7:55 p.m. local
Venue: St. James Park, Exeter, England
TV: FOX Sports 1 (US - English); FOX Deportes (US - Spanish); Sportsnet World (Canada); BBC One (UK)
Online: FOX Sports Go, FOX Soccer 2Go (US); Sportsnet World Now (Canada); BBC iPlayer (UK)
See More:
