Klopp thrilled to see youngsters progress
Jurgen Klopp praised his Liverpool youngsters after avoiding an FA Cup upset at Plymouth.
Liverpool set up a fourthround tie at home to Wolves with old head Lucas Leiva scoring a rare goal in last night’s 1-0 win at Home Park.
Klopp named a stronger side than he had done in the goalless draw against the League Two high-fliers at Anfield 10 days earlier, but four teenagers still started the third-round replay – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Ovie Ejaria and Ben Woodburn. Another two teenagers, Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo, also came on as secondhalf subs.
“It was tough again, but we did better than Anfield in the right moments,” Liverpool manager Klopp said.
“There were a lot of challenges for the young players.
“We were playing live on television against a fourth division team and everybody thinks you are three or four classes better. You do not want to feel the embarrassment of losing a game like this.
“I thought I could see that a bit when it started happening to them in the first half.
“I thought at half-time we could fix this, and we were kind of back in the race and controlled the game well after.
“I’m happy about their potential and we will do everything we can to let it grow. But they have big job to do, too.”
Lucas’s 18th-minute header from a Philippe Coutinho corner was his first goal since scoring in a Europa League tie against Steaua Bucharest in October 2010.
But Klopp said: “He played in an old-against-young match last week when we finished training and he was top scorer.
“I was really surprised he didn’t score for that long.”
Plymouth almost forced extra time when Jake Jervis volleyed against the post on 75 minutes. Later, Liverpool’s Divick Origi had a penalty saved by Luke McCormick.