Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool manager defends team selection for Plymouth FA Cup tie

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FA Cup fourth-round draw
Date: Monday, 9 January Time: 19:00 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC Two, BBC Radio 5 live & BBC Sport website

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp defended selecting the youngest starting XI in the club's history for the 0-0 FA Cup draw against Plymouth.

The Reds - with an average age of of 21 years and 296 days - went close through Sheyi Ojo and Daniel Sturridge but the League Two side held out at Anfield.

Liverpool now face a trip to Devon for the third-round replay and have six remaining games in January.

The German boss said: "I don't think the line-up was a mistake."

Klopp's side also face Southampton in a two-legged EFL Cup semi-final and Premier League games against Manchester United, Swansea and Chelsea this month.

Asked about the long midweek trip for the FA Cup replay, which is set to be played on 17 January, Klopp added: "Yippee. I don't know if at home they can play the same defensive style. We are looking forward to it."

Forward Ben Woodburn, 17, is the club's youngest goalscorer after his strike against Leeds in the EFL Cup earlier this season and he was given his first start.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, 18, and 19-year-olds Joe Gomez - making his first appearance since suffering a knee ligament injury in October 2015 - Ovie Ejaria and Ojo were also in the side.

At 29, Lucas was the oldest Liverpool player.

Liverpool's heatmap shows their dominance of the ball compared with Plymouth's
Liverpool's heatmap (left) may show their dominance of the ball compared with Plymouth's (right) - but the match ended goalless

"I am responsible if you want to see it in a bad way," added Klopp.

"I always choose line-ups to win the game. We didn't think about the age. They are important players in our squad."

First-team regulars Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino were brought on during the second half, but the hosts - who had enjoyed 80.3% possession in the first period - continued to be frustrated.

"We could have done better, 100%," said the Reds boss. "In the first half we lost patience too early - crossing at the wrong moment, making the wrong pass.

"We had the ball all the time. It was boring, not the most exciting game."

'Welcome to the real world'

Plymouth, who are second and challenging for promotion from League Two, limited Liverpool to four shots on target.

"It is probably one of the best defensive performances Anfield has seen," said Plymouth boss Derek Adams. "We allowed them time but didn't allow them space.

"This was about a team performance. We had 13 players and they all deserve a huge amount of credit."

Asked what Liverpool could expect in the replay at Home Park, he added: "Welcome to the real world."

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232 comments

  • Comment posted by jp, at 12:47 9 Jan 2017

    I don't really see the problem with Klopp's decision to start the kids. There's plenty of complaining from some corners when young players are not given the opportunity and Klopp did just that.

    They may not have won the game, but they will have learnt alot from facing a team set up to defend them. The first XI probably would have won 2 or 3-0 and nothing would have really been learnt.

  • Comment posted by U14620908, at 13:14 9 Jan 2017

    League one and two clubs have been fined for playing weakened teams in the EFL trophy. The FA need to grow some balls and treat Liverpool and other premier league clubs the same. Why should it be ok for Liverpool to give their kids a chance but not other clubs?

  • Comment posted by Cornishpirate, at 12:38 9 Jan 2017

    Cometh the moment, cometh the Green Army!

  • Comment posted by Bjorntorekvarme-leg-end, at 12:44 9 Jan 2017

    Mixed feelings about this. This festive period the scheduling has been nonsense, so it is even less surprising than normal that reserves teams are put out. On one had it annoys me that the cup isn't taken seriously, but I have to admit to quite liking it in a way as is gives a chance to see what the youngsters are made when thrust in front of a large attendance who all expect you to win.

  • Comment posted by Rob, at 12:47 9 Jan 2017

    Just one of those games, on another day Liverpool would win by 5. It gave squad players experience of competitive games and to show Klopp their value to the team. Football teams are not about the first 11 anymore.

  • Comment posted by Davethewave, at 13:03 9 Jan 2017

    Not a great game but no blame attached to Plymouth - they can only play what's in front of them.

  • Comment posted by Fracking Hell, at 13:15 9 Jan 2017

    Its not the cup that's lost its magic, its football in general. Far too much shown on TV , its become a bit boring.

  • Comment posted by Funky Chunky Monkey, at 13:52 9 Jan 2017

    62. mark
    Big Klopp fan but yes, he cocked this one up !
    ------
    Still in the FA cup
    Fresh 1st team to play in the Semi on Weds
    Kids got a chance to play in front on 50K+
    Still 2nd in the league.

    Yeah, massive cock up

  • Comment posted by mc1805, at 13:55 9 Jan 2017

    No club should ever be penalised / fined for playing whatever team line up they want. As long as it is not for match fixing purposes it's up to them.

    It's important to enable clubs to give young players etc a chance and develop them, many clubs have used cups over the years for this reason .. and we should not allow the FA to start dictating the team sheet or deciding which players are 'best'

  • Comment posted by Clearsighted, at 13:01 9 Jan 2017

    Great pay day for Plymouth with the replay. Also gives fans another/first chance to see Liverpool. Definitely not what Klopp intended but every cloud ......

  • Comment posted by An opinion, at 17:50 9 Jan 2017

    @ 141 We don't want people like you watching football though. You obviously have no idea of the FA Cup values

  • Comment posted by mc1805, at 14:08 9 Jan 2017

    Well done to Derek Adams and Plymouth who go their tactics absolutely spot on. Every game in the cup is vital for a club like Plymouth, and to give their fans a home match against one of the biggest clubs in World football is fantastic .. and a real chance of getting through.

    Also, nothing wrong with Klopp giving youth a chance ... we're always moaning that they aren't.

  • Comment posted by bootledylan, at 13:15 9 Jan 2017

    Apologies to LFC and Plymouth but BBC still avoids Fifa issues like the plague. Fifa are up to their old tricks, telling everyone what they are going to do and THEN having a vote on it. It's still as corrupt as it ever was but since the world finally got rid of SeppB it's no longer news. Enjoy the WC's in druggie free Russia and the winter fiasco in Qatar because it's going downhill from there.

  • Comment posted by U16110068, at 17:47 9 Jan 2017

    Come on Argyle, put your 1st 11 out for the return game.

  • Comment posted by U15394510, at 13:18 9 Jan 2017

    As a Liverpool fan I think this is win win all round.

    The young players get another chance against a stubborn Plymouth side, a good experience for them.

    It's a huge boost to Plymouth's finances and you could see what it meant to their fans to draw at Anfield and earn a replay.

    Can't see what the fuss was about with Klopp's team selection. He picked a team that he expected would win.

  • Comment posted by Jaap_Stams_Brow, at 13:13 9 Jan 2017

    Eddie Howe changes the entire 11, loses to Millwall and gets completely slaughtered by the media. Even though he has performed miracles at the club and continues to do so.

    Klopp does exactly the same thing and got caught out and the media don't attack his at all. Even Mcmanaman tried to imply Plymouth should of attacked more.

    @10 Has nothing to do with this article and a ridiculous comment.

  • Comment posted by Erics collar, at 17:34 9 Jan 2017

    @131, classy name. The year that filthy club got England banned from Europe

  • Comment posted by U14620908, at 16:06 9 Jan 2017

    @99 - so why do the FA interfere with lower league clubs and tell them who they have to play in cup competitions? It can't be one rule for the big clubs and one for everyone else.

  • Comment posted by JAMES MILNER, at 15:25 9 Jan 2017

    We didn't score,they didn't score so it's a draw

  • Comment posted by The Old Trafford Career Derailment Scheme, at 15:16 9 Jan 2017

    Pepper Pig, did your mother have any kids that lived?

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