Absent Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was “delighted” as the youngest team in the club’s history beat Shrewsbury to reach the FA Cup fifth round.

Klopp decided to miss the fourth-round replay because it fell during the Premier League’s winter break.

A Reds side with an average age of 19 years and 102 days set up a tie at Chelsea with a 1-0 win.

“There was a message at half-time and at full-time [from Klopp],” said under-23s boss Neil Critchley.

“There was a message before the game that Chelsea away could be an opportunity for one or two of them and they put in a performance tonight.”  Read more... (409 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Jurgen Klopp has the full backing of the Liverpool hierarchy over his plan to stay away from his club’s FA Cup fourth-round replay with Shrewsbury.

Klopp said after Sunday’s 2-2 draw at the New Meadow that none of his first-team squad would be involved in next week’s game, which will be on either 4 or 5 February, in the middle of the first week of Liverpool’s winter break.

It is understood Klopp has already told his first-team squad they are free to spend next week as they like before returning to training on 10 February.  Read more... (563 words, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)

Jurgen Klopp has said he will not take charge of the FA Cup replay against Shrewsbury, with Neil Critchley leading a youth side instead.

The Premier League Champions-Elect were expected to dominate at New Meadow, despite Klopp making 11 changes, but it proved to be the youngsters—and stand-in goalkeeper Adrian—who impressed the most.

Shrewsbury will now head to Anfield for a replay after the 2-2 draw on Sunday, with Klopp still yet to have progressed past the fourth round as Liverpool manager.

The replay is set to be held on February 5/6, disrupting the two-week ‘winter break’.  Read more... (525 words, estimated 2:06 mins reading time)