Benteke struggles again as Liverpool eases past Exeter City
This straightforward exercise carried few of the perils from the fraught 2-2 draw at St. James’ Park two weeks ago. Liverpool dominated this FA Cup third-round replay with its makeshift, youthful side and left Exeter City chasing shadows for most of the night. Joe Allen scored the decisive goal after 10 minutes to seal a fourth-round date with West Ham United on Jan. 30, while Sheyi Ojo and Joao Teixeira struck the final 20 minutes to secure a thoroughly deserved 3-0 victory at Anfield.
Only the lack of precision from the increasingly scrutinized Christian Benteke left this result in any doubt as this straightforward night unfolded.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted Benteke played a part in his plans in the buildup to this match, but Benteke offered little justification for the show of faith on this night. The Belgian striker bustled earnestly for the cause without unduly troubling the League Two side for most of the night. His overall performance -- more industrious than many of his displays without summoning the requisite end product -- rather underscored why Klopp requires another, more mobile striker to implement his plans in the future.
Truth be told, this night suited Benteke’s strengths. The opening exchanges -- full of intent and width from Liverpool to stretch Paul Tisdale’s recalcitrant visitors -- illustrated the desire to provide plenty of service from the wide areas. Benteke grasped the potential profit from those endeavors without truly seizing it, particularly with Brad Smith in menacing form on the left.
Smith instead provided the opener for Allen on 10 minutes to confirm Liverpool’s superiority against the limited opposition. His determined run into the penalty area included slicing through the static Exeter defense and sweeping back toward the top of the penalty area. Allen -- linked with a move away from Anfield in search of more first-team football -- swept home from close range as the defenders overcompensated for their previous failures.
The broadly drawn lines -- Exeter sitting back and soaking up pressure, Liverpool tromping through the wide areas to make the best use of their vast superiority in possession -- hinted at a comprehensive victory.
Benteke made the task more laborious than expected by spraying his opportunities anywhere but into the net. He nodded into the side netting, scuffed wide of goal and struggled to round off the moves created for him. His industrious, imprecise foray on the right just before halftime even ended with him dribbling over the endline.
Fortunately for Benteke and Liverpool, Exeter City posed no genuine threat. José Enrique presented the Grecians with one spurned chance inside the opening quarter of an hour, but that misstep represented a rare moment of danger with the game in any semblance of doubt. Exeter lacked the threat of that first leg, even after leading scorer Tom Nichols and Will Hoskins emerged from the bench after halftime.
As the visitors opened up in search of the improbable equalizer, Liverpool posed more of a threat to sort out the tie. Jordon Ibe cut infield well on the right and smashed off the underside of the bar early in the second half. Ibe deserved a goal for his effort -- and replays suggested his effort crossed the line -- and his run, but the spoils eventually fell to others.
Ojo eventually settled matters with the fine second after 74 minutes. Ibe collected after a good tackle in midfield and encountered little resistance as he located second-half substitute Ojo on the right. Ojo drifted inside onto his left foot and curled superbly inside the far post for his first Liverpool goal.
The third arrived eight minutes from time with Benteke in the heart of the buildup. His bustling, determined run out of midfield supplied a glimpse of his best qualities, while his precise pass out to the left played Texeira behind the Exeter line. Teixeira slotted past the stranded Robert Olejnik.
It proved a fitting coda to a night where Benteke frustrated in front of goal and toiled willingly for his teammates nevertheless. The persistence is welcomed for a Liverpool side in need of an industrious number nine, but the overall performance indicates that perhaps Benteke’s promising future might eventually play out elsewhere.
