The FA Cup begins for all of the Premier League teams this weekend, and the first to be on the pitch will be Liverpool. The Reds have seemingly picked up an easy draw against League 2 side Exeter City, but it shouldn't be forgotten that the Grecians were able to force a draw against Manchester United at this stage of the competition just a handful of years ago.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Exeter City +933
Liverpool -325
Draw +456
Over/Under 3 (over +100)
ODDS ANALYSIS
It's understandable that the Reds are the huge favorites in this match even though they're on the road against a League 2 side. They're favored by a goal and a half on the Asian Handicap and will surely be popular bets in this match.
Liverpool almost certainly won't have a full side here at St. James Park, though. The Reds are in the semifinals of the Capital One Cup, and they'll have to play Stoke City on the road on Tuesday before playing Exeter on Friday. Beating Stoke City is far more important than getting past Exeter in the FA Cup.
The total of a flat 3 is only that high due to the fact that Liverpool is favored by such a high margin.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Liverpool didn't have to play in the first three proper rounds of the FA Cup, but Exeter City has had to go through a bit of a nightmare just to reach this point. Sure, none of the really big boys have been playing yet, but the Grecians have had to already play twice.
Their first match in the FA Cup against eighth division Didcot Town resulted in a 3-0 romp, but their second match against Port Vale could've been much tougher. Sure, Exeter City was at home, but it was playing against a League One side, and it still came up with a comprehensive 2-0 win.
RECENT FORM
It's been a tough go domestically for Exeter City. It has been beaten in four matches in a row since that 2-0 win at home against Port Vale, and it hasn't won a match here at home aside from that since October 21.
Liverpool has had some issues of late. A 2-0 loss on the road against West Ham was a poor showing, but that did come on the heels of matching 1-0 triumphs over Sunderland and Leicester City. There are matches in which the Reds look like a Top 4 side, but the fact of the matter is that Jurgen Klopp still hasn't really gotten this team playing the way he wants to. The January transfer window might help, but by this point, Liverpool won't have any new signees ready to go.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Exeter has a history being a giant killer here in the FA Cup, and we can't help but wonder if it's going to have a shot here in this one. Tom and Alex Nicholls are certainly going to be giving it their all up front, and if they're able to crack through the Liverpool defense, they might be able to keep this match interesting.
Liverpool is going to feature a subpar side, and playing on the road is going to be potentially devastating. We do think the Reds are ultimately going to be okay, but this is going to be a war from start to finish. We'll give the advantage to Liverpool, but we wouldn't be shocked if this match ended in a draw, causing a replay at Anfield.
Liverpool 2, Exeter City 1
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Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The fixture between Exeter City and Liverpool is scheduled for Friday, January 8, 2016, at 2:55 p.m. ET at St. James Park. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
