FA Cup: Fourth-tier Plymouth hold Liverpool youngsters

FOURTH-TIER Plymouth Argyle shut up shop and kept the door firmly closed to earn a superb 0-0 draw away to Liverpool's youngest ever starting XI in Sunday's FA Cup third round tie at Anfield.

Determined defending and unstinting effort kept the League Two team in the game against opponents lying second in the Premier League, almost 70 places above them. Leaders Chelsea had no such trouble against third tier Peterborough United, winning 4-1 despite having John Terry sent off, and Middlesbrough also had a man dismissed but beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0.

With a League Cup semi-final first leg to come against Southampton on Wednesday, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp had made 10 changes from the side that drew at Sunderland last Monday and fielded five teenagers. Spurred on by almost 9,000 noisy fans who had travelled the 470 kilometres to Merseyside, Argyle defended stoutly while showing little ambition to go forward and test a Liverpool defence in which Joe Gomez returned after more than 15 months' absence with injury. They had only 23 percent of the possession, not managing a shot for 60 minutes and finally bringing a save from goalkeeper Loris Karius five minutes later.

The home side, however, had few outstanding chances despite 28 attempts on goal. The average age of Liverpool's starting XI on Sunday was 21 years and 296 days, beating the previous record of 22 years and 303 days from a league game against Wolves in 1965.

Number of days after which centre-back Joe Gomez played his first match for Liverpool. He last played in October 2015, against FC Sion of Switzerland in Europa League.

Ronaldo tipped for FIFA award

Following his success in Ballon d'or, Portugal and Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo is set to add another garland — the Best FIFA Men's Player — on Monday inzurich. After Champions League and Euro 2016 success for club and country last year, Ronaldo is the overwhelming favourite for yet another accolade for his bulging trophy cabinet. It could well be a double celebration for Real, with their manager Zinedine Zidane hoping to land the coaches title having led the merengues to European Cup glory — 14 years after doing so as a player. Last year, FIFA ended its six-year collaboration with magazine France Football for the Ballon d'or award and is now to unveil its own brand new "Best" distinction.