Liverpool held to draw by Exeter City

Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor feels it was a relief that the Reds were not embarrassed by Exeter City, following their 2-2 draw with the League Two side in the FA Cup last night.

Exeter City are now reported to make around £700,000 from the replay, a figure which could be boosted should the tie be chosen for further live television coverage which will significantly boost the fan owned club’s coffers.

“But the draw was the logical result, we deserved it”. It wasn’t Adam Bogdan’s finest moment, Liverpool’s backup goalkeeper finding himself pushed around in the box and flapping at the ball as it whipped into the top corner of the net.

Klopp might have feared the worst for his youthful side but Liverpool were level within three minutes after Smith had made good ground down the left.

“If I judge finally after just this game, no. It doesn’t work like this”.

It took just nine minutes for Exeter to delight the romantics keen for a memorable Cup upset as Jamie Reid sped down the right and crossed for Nichols to sprint ahead of veteran defender Jose Enrique and slide home the opening goal. We will see what happens.

Klopp’s gamble looked to have failed until Smith took advantage of a tiring Exeter to spare his manager’s blushes, but the German has previously complained about his side’s busy fixture schedule and the draw has added another game to that.

He was the youngest first-team player in Derby County’s history, at 15 years and 268 days, when he went on as a substitute against Grimsby Town on Boxing Day 2002.

Liverpool now have 11 players out on loan after they recalled Shey Ojo, Ryan Kent and Tiago Ilori from their loan spells.

“In my opinion the best talents should be at their own club so they can play together for the under-21s and develop as a team, so you always have them around you”.

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale: “I’m a football manager and I want to win games”.

“The pitch was hard for both teams, they scored from their first attack and then from a corner”.

“I thought the boys were brilliant”, Nichols told the BBC. “On one-on-one situations they were more robust than our guys”.

“Now we have to play again, I can’t believe another game, but you want it like this and we’ll be there”.