Manager Paul Tisdale has previewed tomorrow’s FA Cup third round clash against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side. None of the players who played the last five or six games in a row will play at Exeter. The Spaniard’s last game for the club was in January past year, in a goalless draw with Bolton in the FA Cup. Although there have been wins over Chelsea, Manchester City and Premier League surprise package Leicester City, they have also lost convincingly to Watford and West Ham in recent weeks.
“They are highly trained athletes now more than ever before and they become more susceptible to injury by the amount of work they do in a game now”.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss is now dealing with a chronic injury situation in his squad, with defenders such as Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren out of action and they will also be missing talisman Philippe Coutinho until February.
“We don’t have too many centre-backs, so it is an idea”, said Klopp. The full-backs Connor Randall and Brad Smith, the midfielders João Carlos Teixeira and Cameron Brannagan and the goalkeeper Adam Bogdan could start. “The best talents should be in their club so they can develop”. “If they do well they can quickly take the next step, but if not they have time”, continued Klopp.
Despite putting themselves in a strong position to reach the Capital One Cup final and remaining in all four competitions, Liverpool’s form under Klopp has been inconsistent. “We know they are a good team and they had a respectable result against Sunderland in the League Cup“.
The BBC team, including Lineker, are understood to be staying in a hotel more city centre based tomorrow night and will arrive in the city ahead of the game. If we go out you have to criticise us, no problem, but we have to think about more than only one game. Liverpool are seven-time winners but they last lifted the trophy in 2006. “That is one reason for the team we will play”. It is completely normal, average running.
Looking back on how he’s got himself into his current position, Morrison confirmed that he had pretty much retired from football until Exeter captain Matt Oakley suggested that his skills on the dancefloor could still be transferable to the football field. “Phil had played a lot of games and so we planned to change at half-time but then, 18 minutes, bang”.