KOPY AND PASTE
Critchley steered Liverpool kids to famous win.. now Tangerines boss eyes another fairytale Cup victory
Bloomfield Road: 3pm
ELEVEN months ago Neil Critchley wrote a little piece of FA Cup history when he steered Liverpool’s kids to a famous FA Cup victory at Anfield.
Now, after swapping life a s t h e Kop’s Under - 2 3 coach – and twice stand- in manager – for the hot seat at League One Blackpool, he i s hoping to produce another fairytale.
His Seasiders t ake on Premier League West Brom at Bloomfield Road today looking to pile more misery on new Baggies manager Sam Allardyce, whose team have shipped nine goals in their last two matches.
Back i n Februar y l ast year, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp chose to rest hi s entire first- team squad as a f o u r t h - r o u n d r e p l ay against Shrewsbur y fel l d u r i n g t h e P r e m i e r League’s winter break.
T h e Ge r man c o a c h asked Critchley to take c h a r g e a n d t h e R e d s youngsters won 1- 0.
Critchley remembered: “It was a wonderful evening, a great opportunity for myself, the academy staff and a lot of the younger players to play in front of a full house at Anfield.
“This is a different experience but the magic of the FA Cup is still there. I was extremely excited for the t h i r d - r o u nd d r aw a nd hopefully on Monday night for rounds four and five.”
Critchley ( right) has not received a call from Klopp to of fer advice on West Brom, who drew at Anfield in a gritty display under Allardyce, but the Blackpool manager knows he would be on the end of a phone willingly. He said: “I know Jurgen would be more than forthcoming with advice. A massive strength of the boss is that he’s so open, so great to s p e a k t o. He’s su c h a friendly person who makes you feel comfortable”
He will draw on Klopp’s philosophy to give his side the strength to go out on the front foot and take the game to West Brom.
“I don’t want to go on about Liverpool too much but, under Jurgen, there is no better example of a team which brings their i dentity onto the pitch , brings their belief in every s i n g l e ga me,” h e s a i d . “That’s what we have to do – we’ll go for it and not take a backward step.”