Own goal sees Reds’ young guns advance

FA CUP: Klopp’s faith repaid by youngest team in club’s history

The youngest team in Liverpool’s history justified the faith Jurgen Klopp placed in them by beating Shrewsbury 1-0 in their FA Cup fourth-round replay at Anfield last night.

Former Manchester United academy player Ro-Shaun Williams’ 75th-minute own goal proved to be the difference, moments after the League One visitors saw David Edwards’ header ruled out by VAR.

Klopp, who stayed away from the game, had been accused of disrespecting the cup when he chose to honour the mid-season Premier League break by sending all his stars on holiday rather than play in this game.

But their replacements did themselves, Klopp and the club proud with a performance full of confidence and commitment which belied their tender years.

With an average age of 19 years and 102 days, three debutants, 36 senior appearances between them and squad numbers ranging from 46 to 93 this was a very inexperienced team at any level never mind a somewhat controversial cup tie in front of almost 53,000 at Anfield.

VAR came to the hosts’ rescue on the hour when Shaun Whalley nodded in a rebounded shot only for the referral to rule it out for offside.

When the goal eventually arrived it came with some considerable assistance.

Neco Williams’ long ball forward was aimed at Harvey Elliott but namesake Ro-Shaun intervened, heading back over his own goalkeeper from the edge of his own penalty area.

The young Reds then held on to book the club a meeting with Chelsea in round five.

Wayne Rooney is set to face his old club Manchester United in the fifth round after helping Derby beat Northampton 4-2 in a replay last night.

Rooney scored his side’s fourth goal from the penalty spot in the second half to put the tie out of reach of the visitors.

Newcastle survived an almighty scare from Oxford before coming through 3-2 in extra time.

Goals from Sean Longstaff and

Joelinton had put Newcastle in control in their fourth-round replay but a free-kick from Liam Kelly and Nathan Holland’s injury-time strike took the game to an extra half-hour.

With penalties looming, Allan SaintMaximin fired in a powerful strike with three minutes remaining to hand the Premier League side the lead again.

Steve Bruce’s team will now travel to Championship leaders West Brom.

Reading claimed a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Cardiff to book a fifth round home tie with Premier League Sheffield United.

In a game that finished 3-3 after extra time, Josh Murphy and Robert Glatzel struck either side of the interval for Cardiff before Omar Richards and substitute Andy Rinomhota forced another 30 minutes.

Murphy pounced on a Gabriel Osho mistake to poke home his second and restore Cardiff’s lead, but Yakou Meite forced penalties four minutes from time.

Reading won the resulting shoot-out 4-1 as Garath McCleary, Osho, Jordan Obita and Sone Aluko gave the Royals a 100% return from the spot and Cardiff’s nerve buckled as Aden Flint and Will Vaulks missed.

Birmingham City booked their place in the fifth round with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over their tenants Coventry City in their replay.

The game was locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes and extra-time but captain Harlee Dean scored the winning penalty for the Blues who now travel to Leicester in the next round.

Picture: Shutterstock. Neco Williams, left, celebrates with his Liverpool team-mates after his cross was headed into his own net by Shrewsbury defender Ro-Shaun Williams.

Wayne Rooney: Will look forward to a meeting with Manchester United.