One of the benefits of being drawn against lower league opposition in the early rounds of the domestic cups is that you’re able to play fringe players and youngsters who otherwise wouldn’t be in contention for a starting berth.
That said, if reports in the Daily Mail and in the Echo are to be believed, Klopp will take that to the extreme in the third round of the FA Cup away at Exeter City on Friday evening.
The Mail quote Klopp as saying: “None of the players who played the last five or six games in a row will play at Exeter. It is not possible. We can try to make a team. It is not easy, but we will find one. I have to make the right decision for Liverpool and for my team. I have to make changes”.
With Manchester United and Arsenal both coming to Anfield within the next ten days, his approach is more than understandable – especially given we have ten players currently sidelined with an injury (via physioroom.com).
“The team that plays will want to win 100 per cent but it won’t be a team that has played together often”, said Klopp. If someone wants to write a headline (about lacking respect), it is not the truth. We respect the FA Cup. That is one reason for the team we will play”.
It appears Brad Smith, Connor Randall, Jerome Sinclair, Kevin Stewart, Cameron Brannagan, Tiago Ilori, Sheyi Ojo, Ryan Kent, and Christian Benteke will all start.
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If we had to guess, we’d predict that Enrique lines up along side Ilori at centre back, though the versatile Kevin Stewart could also play there. Benteke will be up top by himself, with Ojo, Kent, and Teixeria behind him.
Is Klopp making the correct decision? Is that the team you would play? Let us know in the comments section…