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Thanks to European involvement and an upcoming two-leg League Cup semi-final, Liverpool were always going to have a busy December and January. The 4-game stretch over the New Year just got a bit more compact, as the FA decided to move Liverpool's away clash with League Two side Exeter to Friday night.
The FA Cup 3rd Round game will be Liverpool's fourth game in ten days, following league trips to Sunderland (Wednesday, December 30th), West Ham (Saturday, January 2nd), and the first leg of the League Cup semi-final away to Stoke (Tuesday, January 5th).
Liverpool supporters were quick to protest the new time and date. A major point of contention for traveling supporters was the availability, or lack thereof, of public transportation options, as the last train back to Liverpool leaves prior to the 7:55 PM kickoff. This, in turn, means that supporters who want to go to the match will have to take 1-2 days off work, and shell out dough for a hotel. Or take a bus.
However, to us non-traveling supporters, the Friday night fixture date means the match will be televised, and thus can be viewed by Liverpool's global supporters. Moreover, it will give Klopp & Co. an extra day to prepare for an important week, with home league fixtures against Arsenal and Manchester United.