Hello and welcome to tonight’s live blog.
Liverpool are missing a host of first-team players through injury – is there an upset in the air in England’s south-west?
Or can they turn this cup week into a resounding success following their 1-0 win at Stoke on Tuesday in the first-leg of their League Cup semi-final?
That result was a welcome one for Jurgen Klopp following a limp showing at West Ham in their 2-0 Premier League loss last weekend.
The42′s Paul Fennessy caught up with former Ireland international and now Exeter City striker Clinton Morrison this week and he had plenty to say on his storied career against the Reds.
Here’s some more pre-match reading for you.
Liverpool are expected to play a glorified U21 team in the FA Cup tonight
Liverpool bring back young winger from Wolves in face of injury crisis
This game will be live on BBC One and Setanta Ireland. Kick-off is at 19.55.
Former Ireland winger Stephen Hunt has also just confirmed a move to Coventey City, more to follow shortly on the42.ie.
Tonight’s teams
Exeter City: Olejnik, Woodman, Noble, Ribeiro, Holmes, Nicholls, Moore-Taylor, Reid, Nichols, Tillson, Brown.
Subs: McAllister, Oakley, Davies, Morrison, Hoskins, Hamon, Grant.
Liverpool: Bogdan, Randall, Enrique, Smith, Ilori, Brannagan, Stewart, Kent, Teixeira, Sinclair, Benteke.
Subs: Fulton, Lallana, Lucas, Ojo, Maguire, Chirivella, Masterson.
After a disappointing performance against West Ham last weekend, this man will be desperate to get on the scoresheet tonight.
Klopp’s side is definitely experimental although he does have the likes of Lallana and Lucas in reserve. One to watch out for too is the inclusion on the bench of Ireland youth international Conor Masterson.
The centre-half could make his senior debut for the club tonight. A big day for the 17-year-old Dubliner who joined the club in July, 2013 for an estimated €1 million from Lucan United.
On the bench for Exeter is one Clinton Morrison. A man who needs little introduction on these shores.
There are five debutants in the Liverpool starting line-up; Ryan Kent, Kevin Stewart, Cameron Brannagan, Tiago Ilori and Connor Randall. Except for Benteke, there is no one else who could consider themselves a first-team regular.
Klopp is getting a taste of some real FA Cup magic as he conducts his pre-match interview with BBC in a tea room.
Only two Liverpool players have more than four appearances for the club. One of those, Jose Enrique, has not played yet this season.
This could get interesting …
Exeter haven’t exactly been showing the form of giant-killers of late however, they are currently sitting 16th in England’s fourth tier.
This is the sixth meeting between the sides; the five previous clashes have been won by Liverpool. The last victory was a 3-1 League Cup second-round win in 2011.
Paul Tisdale, the Exeter City manager, has promised his side will not sit back tonight.
Jim Beglin didn’t hang about. Kudos.
The teams are in the tunnel – FA Cup third round about to get under way for 2016.
Can it get off to an explosive start or will Liverpool’s kids deliver – I wonder how Alan Hansen is feeling right now.
We’re under way at St James’ Park
Great atmosphere in Devon for this one.
It’s been a scrappy enough opening – pretty even so far.
This pitch has definitely seen better days. The rain continues to fall.
Benteke, Liverpool’s captain for the night, has started the game well.
He has shown good control and an eagerness to take on the Exeter defence. And he looks big enough to bully the home side’s central defenders.
Exeter 1 Liverpool 0
What a start for the League Two side; Jamie Read breaks down the right and puts in an excellent cross for Tom Nicholls who , at full stretch, guides the ball into Bogdan’s bottom corner.
Wow.
Exeter 1 Liverpool 1
That didn’t take long. A horror defensive mix-up from Exeter sees the ball break in the box. Jerome Sinclair tucks it away with ease.
Liverpool fans can breathe a sigh of relief, for now.
What a start.
Liverpool are starting to get on top. They’re playing some neat football when they get it on the deck.
Liverpool are well on top now. They’re passing it about tidily and have been keen to get it out wide, presumably to get Benteke involved in an aerial battle in front of goal.
Exeter have been more or less camped in their own half since scoring their goal.
Liverpool seem to be too keen to take touches though. A more direct approach to get Benteke involved is surely what is called for here?
CHANCE for Exeter. They finally get out of their half and have success down the right-hand side once again.
David Noble blazes over under pressure though when the ball falls to him in the area.
Neither side are focusing too heavily on defensive work this evening. It looks like there will be plenty more goals in this one yet.
Cameron Brannagan has been excellent in the Liverpool midfield in the opening half-hour. Looks to have a bit of class about him.
CHANCE for Exeter. Christian Ribeiro gets his head on a left-wing cross. He probably should have done better as his guiding header goes about a metre wide.
Exeter 2 Liverpool 1
It seems Adam Bogdan can’t keep goal since he left Bolton. Corner goes straight in from Lee Holmes on the stroke of half-time. Bogdan was under pressure but should have done better.
HT: Exeter 2 Liverpool 1
What a half of football. Liverpool had most of the ball but have looked ropey at the back.
Bright points for the Reds have been the performances of Brannagan and Teixeira but Jose Enrique doesn’t look related to a player that has played at the top level for more than a decade.
Australia international Brad Smith, who is one of the more experienced “kids”, has looked vulnerable at left back.
Liverpool haven’t got Benteke involved enough and will need to improve tactically if they are to turn this around in the second period.
Clinton Morrison to come off the bench and bag a goal for old time’s sake? Seventeen-year-old Dubliner Conor Masterson to make his Liverpool senior debut?
It’s all ahead of us in the next 45 minutes, strap yourselves in.
We’re back under way in Exeter.
Exeter have started the second half with intent. They’re passing it about and look like they’re going for the jugular.
PENALTY SHOUT – Not given though and rightly so as Ribiero trips over his own feet in the Liverpool penalty area.
WHAT A SAVE – Liverpool finally get the ball in the air for Benteke. Brannagan stands it up for the big Belgian at the back post and he powers a header towards goal. But Olejnik is up to the challenge as manages to turn it over the bar.
That’s more like it from Liverpool.
If things stay like this it surely won’t be long before we see Lucas and Lallana.
Change for Liverpool – not Lucas or Lallana, instead it’s 18-year-old Spaniard Pedro Chiravella. Strange.
CHANCE – Ribeiro rises high at the back post but his header is off target. The right-back has been lively.
Exeter have been on top in the second period. Nichols just fires over from a free-kick 25 yards out. They’re starting to look full value for their lead. Still no Lallana or Lucas for Liverpool.
It’s gone a bit scrappy at St James’ Park – not that the home side’s fans mind much. They’re now just 20 minutes away from a famous victory.
Sheyi Ojo replaces Sinclair. He has just returned to Liverpool after a loan spell at Wolves. STILL no Lallana…the mind boggles.
Exeter 2 Liverpool 2
Australian left-back Brad Smith gets Liverpool in the game as Exeter struggle to clear their lines again. Game on – 15 minutes to play.
Joe Maguire is coming on for Liverpool – that means there will be no debut tonight for 17-year-old Dubliner Conor Masterson.
It will take Adam Bogdan a while to get over this one.
Goalscorer Holmes is replaced by Joel Grant for Exeter – that means we won’t get to see Morrison tonight either.
The game has gone very quiet. Both sides seem happy to settle for a draw and a replay in Anfield.
The crowd are still in full voice at least.
FT: Exeter 2 Liverpool 2
What a game of football.
Exeter were full value for their draw and have got themselves a trip to Anfield.
The FA Cup deliver once again in what was a thrilling game of football.
Report and reaction to follow.