Liverpool forced to rely on ‘kids’

THANKS to a scheduling conflict, Liverpool will leave it to the kids to continue their English League Cup quest.

Liverpool visit Aston Villa for a League Cup quarter-final today with a squad of young players.

That’s because the Champions League winners will take a full squad to Qatar for their Club World Cup semi-final meeting with Mexican side Monterrey the following day.

Manager Jurgen Klopp threatened to pull his side out of the League Cup because of a crowded December calendar but it was decided the Reds would send two different squads to the competitions.

“We had to do it like this,” Klopp said.

“I think it’s a really nice opportunity for the younger players to face that (a cup quarter-final tie).”

So instead of superstars Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane and Alisson Becker going to Villa Park it will be youngsters such as Rhian Brewster and Harvey Elliott getting the chance to impress.

As does Neil Critchley, the club’s

Under-23 coach who will lead the squad in Klopp’s absence.

“It should be a great opportunity for all of us,” Critchley told the Liverpool Echo.

“It will be a privilege to lead out a Liverpool team at a fantastic stadium against great players.

“I’m really interested to see how our boys do.”

The matchup is one of two allPremier League ties in the last eight.

The other sees Liverpool’s neighbours Everton hosting Leicester City, who sit second to the Reds in the Premier League table.

The remaining quarters are true David v Goliath affairs with lower division sides taking on two of the biggest clubs in the world.

Holders Manchester City travel to League One’s Oxford United, while their city rivals Manchester United host League Two side Colchester United.

Oxford United also faced City at home last season and though they lost 3-0 manager Karl Robinson is relishing the chance to take on the defending champions again. “What a great draw,” he said after the tie was set up back in October.

“Another full house, a great atmosphere and another chance to test ourselves against the very best.

“It’s a great draw for the fans and one we will all be looking forward to.”

Colchester United also have an opportunity to pull off a major shock at Manchester United.

With a trip to Old Trafford, one of football’s most fabled grounds, on the horizon it would be natural for Colchester players to be looking ahead but that’s not the case.

All focus leading up to this past weekend has been solely on their league campaign, where they’re in a battle for a promotion play-off spot.

“The only time we’ve spoken about it is when we’ve been trying to sort out tickets for our families,” striker Frank Nobule told the Daily Gazette newspaper.

“Other than that, we’ve not really spoken about it.”

The winners advance to next month’s two-legged semi-finals.