Klopp pledges to field youth team in FA Cup Shrewsbury replay

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp will risk the wrath of the Football Association and public opinion by fielding a youth team in their FA Cup replay with Shrewsbury.

Having conceded a twogoal lead to draw 2-2 at the M o n t g o m e r y Wa t e r s Stadium, Klopp immediately said he would be respecting next month’s Premier League winter break and neither he nor his senior players would be present at Anfield for the return fixture.

Instead he will do what he did in December when there was a clash between their Club World Cup commitments in Qatar and a Carabao Cup quarterfinal at Aston Villa and send out U/23 manager Neil Critchley and his team of youngsters.

“In April 2019, we got a letter from the Premier League, I think, where they asked us to respect the winter break and not to organise international friendlies or competitive games. We respect that,” he said.

“So I said to the boys already two weeks ago that we will have a winter break, which means we will not be there.

“It will be the kids who play that game.

“You cannot deal with us like nobody cares about it.

“I know that it’s not very popular but that’s the way I see it.

“The Premier League asked us to respect the winter break. That’s what we do. If the FA doesn’t respect that, t hen we cannot change it. We will not be there.

“Does that mean I won’t be there? Yes. Neil Critchley will be in charge.”

Klopp has long been a c r i t i c of t he f ootball calendar, when games are scheduled and how frequently, so f eels it would be hypocritical not to take advantage of a break which has been pencilled in for a year.

Jason Cummings struck twice for Shrewsbury as they held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in the FA Cup.