Liverpool youngsters reach FA Cup fifth round
Liverpool’s youngest ever team proved coach Jurgen Klopp was right to rest his stars as they reached the FA Cup fifth round with a 1-0 win against third-tier Shrewsbury on Tuesday.
Klopp and his entire first team were all absent for the fourth round replay at Anfield as part of the club’s winter break.
The Liverpool manager was criticised for disrespecting the FA Cup, but his youngsters proved up to the task and their mature display was rewarded when Ro-Shaun Williams headed the decisive own goal in the closing stages.
Liverpool will face Chelsea in the last 16 at Stamford Bridge on March 5 as they remain on course for a potential treble of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Klopp had turned over the responsibility of leading Liverpool to the club’s under-23 coach Neil Critchley, who also took charge when the Reds played an under-strength side for their League Cup quarter-final defeat at Aston Villa earlier this season.
On that occasion, Klopp had a better excuse for his absence as Liverpool were in Qatar on course to win the Club World Cup.
This time, it was purely his decision to ignore the FA Cup, but resting Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and company at least gave fans a glimpse of the next generation.
With an average age of 19 years and 102 days, it was Liverpool’s youngest ever starting line-up in all competitions.
There were seven teenagers, including 16-year-old Harvey Elliott, while Pedro Chirivella was the oldest player in the team at 22.
Liverpool-born teenager Curtis Jones became the club’s youngest captain at 19 years and five days.
There were first senior starts for 20-year-old defender Adam Lewis, 18-year-old midfielder Leighton Clarkson, midfielder Jake Cain, 18, and Liam Millar, a 20-year-old forward.
Liverpool had blown a two-goal lead in that original meeting, but several of these youngsters had helped stun Everton in the third round and once again they showcased their potential.
Despite dominating possession, Liverpool almost fell behind in the 58th minute when Shaun Whalley headed home, only to see VAR disallow the goal for offside against one of his team-mates in the build-up.
Liverpool made the most of that escape to win it in the 75th minute.
Neco Williams’ long pass looked harmless but Ro-Shaun Williams tried to head back to O’Leary and, with the Shrewsbury keeper way off his line, the ball looped over him into the empty net.
Liverpool player ratings vs Shrewsbury – Two nines as outstanding performance sees young Reds reach FA Cup fifth round: Liverpool's youngsters defied the odds to beat Shrewsbury Town's full-strength team to follow up the remar.. https://t.co/qfFM4ffmal pic.twitter.com/wEXARk1ZrC
— Soccer Talk (@soccertal) February 4, 2020
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Rooney scored Derby’s fourth goal from the penalty spot to wrap up an emphatic victory that brought the prize of a reunion with 12-time FA Cup winners United.
The former England star, who recently joined Derby after a spell with DC United, spent 13 years with the Old Trafford club and won a host of major trophies before returning to Everton in 2017.