Jurgen Klopp insists he is keen to avoid an FA Cup shock - but admits his Liverpool team at Exeter will be one that "hasn't played too often together".
The German watched his side beat Stoke 1-0 in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final tie on Tuesday but his training methods have been under scrutiny since Philippe Coutinho, Dejan Lovren and Kolo Toure all picked up injuries at the Britannia Stadium.
That trio will miss the trip to Devon, while Jordon Ibe has reportedly also succumbed to injury, meaning Klopp could be without 12 players against the Sky Bet League 2 side for what appears to be a classic 'banana skin' encounter on Friday evening.
Youngsters Sheyi Ojo, Ryan Kent and Kevin Stewart have subsequently been recalled from respective loans at Wolves, Coventry and Swindon, while Tiago Ilori had his loan with Aston Villa cancelled on Thursday and is also in line to be involved.
"We have to make decisions in this moment for the team, so we have to make changes," Klopp said ahead of the third-round tie at St James Park. "That is all I can say, because I don't know who is available.
"The team which will play will want to win this game for sure, but it will be a team that hasn't played too often together."
With Premier League leaders Arsenal set to visit Anfield on Wednesday, Klopp will be tempted to leave one or two frontline players out at Exeter, despite Liverpool's injury list.
But he insists the seven-time FA Cup winners will treat the competition with the respect it deserves.
"It is a big tournament and we have a big respect for it," Klopp said. "We have to find a solution. If we go out, you have to criticise us, no problem, but we have to think about more than only one game.
"Everyone wants to see the sensation [of an upset] and if this is a chance for Exeter, then they have to take it.
"I saw after the rain the pitch is not in the best shape. The dressing room should be small, I heard, so maybe we should not spend the longest time in it and go out and play football."
Out-of-form Exeter have slipped to 16th in League 2 after losing four successive games, three of them at their 8,500-capacity home, but Grecians boss Paul Tisdale claimed Liverpool will be meeting fearless opponents.
"We are not just going to sit back and defend," Tisdale said. "I don't want to do that; we need to have some intent about us.
"I don't think we should hold back and wait for the game to happen. It's a compromise between how much you risk, but we can play with no fear."