Critchley: Jurgen gave us total clarity

NEIL CRITCHLEY urged Liverpool’s young stars to use their FA Cup heroics as a springboard to bigger things as he savoured the best night of his career. Liverpool made light of the fact that manager Jurgen Klopp and their senior players were absent with a calm and measured performance at Anfield that was too much for Shrewsbury. Visiting manager Sam Ricketts admitted his squad ‘could not get near’ the novices as Liverpool won 1-0. Critchley, the Under 23 head coach, celebrated in front of the Kop at the final whistle and then returned to the dressing room to find messages of congratulations from Klopp — whose advice to Critchley before the fourth-round replay was for his team to ‘go and play the Liverpool way’. Critchley said: ‘It was such an intense game, such a close game that the celebration was like a release of emotion.’ Critchley, acknowledging that Liverpool now have a demanding fifth-round assignment at Chelsea, added: ‘This will probably never happen again for me. I did enjoy it and the players did, you could see the looks in the eyes of the supporters. There is genuine passion. The connection after the Aston Villa (Carabao Cup) game maybe grew a bit stronger and I think we have done that again. ‘The players have done the club proud. A full house — absolutely ridiculous. They stayed right to the end and saw the boys giving everything. ‘Jurgen just gives you total clarity and belief — play the Liverpool way, go for it. And that is what the first team do. This is us, this is how we play, this is what we stand for and you had better be ready for it.

For me to share that is fantastic for all of us.’ There was one senior player at Anfield, with James Milner an animated presence behind the dugout, roaring on encouragement throughout. And Critchley revealed that Liverpool’s vice-captain had a bigger input to this victory than was first appreciated. ‘He trained with us yesterday and he asked whether he could come along,’ said Critchley. ‘I think the answer is “Yes, of course you can”. It was very respectful to ask. He said can I come in the dressing room. What do you think my answer was? ‘To have someone like him who has achieved so much. He was giving words of advice. He was animated. He was vocal. I could hear him! I can’t thank him enough. I don’t think he is available to play yet but he was certainly jumping up and down.’