Having won five trophies during his time as manager of
Borussia Dortmund, Jurgen Klopp is set to embark on his first FA Cup tie as
manager of Liverpool against Exeter
City
The Reds’ meeting with the Grecians won’t be the first time
they have encountered League Two opposition this season, as they also faced
Carlisle United in the Capital One Cup. It will no doubt provide great
encouragement to Paul Tisdale’s side that Liverpool
– then managed by Brendan Rodgers – needed penalties to overcome the Cumbrians.
To avoid a repeat of this result, it is likely that Klopp
will be looking to field as strong a side as possible, but – at the same time –
give a number of fringe players the opportunity to impress.
However, due to a spate of injuries – most notably hamstring
strains – the German has had his choices limited.
Former Bolton goalkeeper
Adam Bogdan, who has recently stood in for first choice goalkeeper Simon
Mignolet, could yet feature between the sticks for the Reds.
Young defenders Connor Randall and Brad Smith have tasted
first team football since Klopp’s arrival and there is every chance that the
duo could be involved at St James’ Park.
Randall has made two appearances in the Capital One Cup this season and
Smith, who has also received full international recognition for Australia
Should Klopp opt to try out a number of younger players, he
may look to include a few experienced heads to help guide them. Leading
candidates for such a role could have included former Arsenal and Manchester
City defender Kolo Toure and Croatian Dejan Lovren, but unfortunately the duo
are set to miss the game through injury, as does Slovakian centre-back Martin
Skrtel.
Full-back Jon Flanagan has recently returned to full
training following a lengthy knee injury and could be available for selection
against the Grecians.
In order to avoid a possible upset, Klopp may look to a
number of players in his squad who have appeared in the lower leagues during their
careers, such as Joe Allen and Adam Lallana.
Welsh international Allen made his league debut for Swansea City
Former Southampton
midfielder Lallana scored the opening goal in the Saints’ 1-1 with the Grecians
on Saturday February 6th 2010. In the following season - on New
Year’s Day 2011 - he found the back of the net again as Southampton won 4-0
against Exeter
Jordon Ibe, who started his career with Wycombe Wanderers –
for whom he made his professional debut at the age of 15, has enjoyed more
first team opportunities this season with the Reds following the summer sale of
Raheem Sterling to Manchester City for £49 million, but won’t be featuring
against the Grecians due to a hamstring injury.
Club captain Jordan Henderson, who has recently returned
after a long absence through injury, might have been leading the Reds out on to
the St James’ Park pitch, but has recently succumbed to a heel injury.
In his absence, James Milner or Emre Can are leading
candidates to lead Liverpool out against the Grecians.
Home grown youngster Jordan Rossiter is another name on the
ever growing list of Liverpool players to suffer a hamstring injury recently,
but fellow Reds’ starlet Cameron Brannagan could feature in the Reds’ midfield.
Ryan Kent, Sheyi Ojo and Tiago Ilori could all make
their debuts after they were recalled from loan spells in the build-up to the
game.
Klopp may originally have seen the tie as a perfect time to
hand a first team start to Belgian international Divock Origi, who recently
netted his first Premier League goal against West Bromwich Albion and scored a
hat-trick in their 6-1 Capital One Cup Quarter Final victory over Southampton.
For much of the season, so far, Origi has played second fiddle to his
compatriot Christian Benteke and Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino, but a
hamstring means he also misses out.
Whoever features in the match, the game looks set to be
another memorable cup tie played at St James’ Park.
An abridged version
of the article appeared in the Sunday Independent on December 27th
2015.
